GUIDE BOOK 
TO HISTORIC 
GERMANTOWN 





Class fDt> & 

Copyright^?. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE 

GUIDE BOOK 

TO HISTORIC 
GERMANTOWN 



PREPARED FOR THE 

SITE & RELIC SOCIETY 

BY 

CHARLES F. JENKINS 

H 



GERMANTOWN 
1915 



PS9 

S3 IS J? 



Copyright, 1902, by Site and Relic Society, Germantown 

First Edition, 1902 
Second Edition, 1904 
Third Edition, 1915 




NOV 22 1915 
©GU41474 2 



CONTENTS § 



Chronology of Germantown 7 

Bibliography of Germantown 9 

Preface 1 1 

How to Reach Germantown 14 

The Settlement of Germantown 17 

The Ancient Town 24 

Main Street of Germantown 29 

Excursion, East Side of Germantown 125 

Excursion, West Side of Germantown 135 

Short Account of Battle of Germantown 144 

Francis Daniel Pastorius 155 

Streets of Germantown 160 

Map 162 

Index 165 



a a 

§ LIST of ILLUSTRATIONS § 



Billmeyer House 119 

Carlton 145 

Chew House 2 

Chew House, the Hall 157 

Chew House, the Old Doors 153 

Dove House 8 1 

Germantown Academy 77 

Grave Stone in Upper Burying Ground 109 

Green Tree Tavern 93 

Johnson House 105 

Keyser House 103 

King of Prussia Tavern 83 

Livezey House 149 

Market Square 61 

Mennonite Meeting House 101 

Morris House 65 

Price Homestead. Ladies' Club House, Manheim 139 

Rittenhouse's Birthplace 37 

Shippen-Blair House 99 

Spencer House. Home of Thomas Godfrey 131 

Stenton 19 

Stuart's Residence 43 

Thones Kunder's House 33 

Wagner House 25 

Wakefield 127 

Wister House 49 

Wyck 97 



8 



rr 



C H RON OLOGY OF 
GERM A NT OWN 



August 16, 1683, Francis Daniel Pastorius reaches Philadelphia. 

October 6, 1683, Thirteen emigrants from Crefeld with their families reached 
Philadelphia 

October 12, 1683, A Warrant was issued to Pastorius or land on behalf of the 
Germantown purchase. 



October 24, 1683, 
October 25, 1683, 

1688, 

1690, 

May 31, 1691, 

1705, 

1707, 
1708, 

February 17,1719, 
1719, 



Thomas Fairman surveyed the land. 

Meeting in cave of Pastorius where lots were drawn for the land 

and settlement was at once begun. 
Friends issue first public protest in America against human 

slavery. 
First paper mill in America erected in Germantown. 

Germantown incorporated. 

What is believed to be the first portrait in oil painted in America 
made in Germantown by Dr. Christopher Witt. 

Town loses its charter and is no longer incorporated. 

First Mennonite meeting house in America built in German- 
town. 

Francis Daniel Pastorius died. 

Arrival in Germantown of the first body of Dunkards in 
America. 

December 25, 1723, The Dunkard Church organized in Germantown, the mother 
organization in America. 

April 8, 1732, David Rittenhouse born. 

1743, First Bible in America, in a European language, printed in 
Germantown by Christopher Saur. 



8 Historic Germantown 

1760, Germantown Academy founded. 

1761, "Cliveden," the Chew House, built. 

1764, Saur began the publication of the first religious magazine in 

America. 
1764, Invasion of Paxtang Boys. 

1769, Dr. Christopher Witt died. 

1770, First American book on Pedagogy published in Germantown. 
1772-1773, First type cast in America made in Germantown. 

August 1-8, 1777, Washington's army encamped near Germantown. 

Sept. 12-14,1777, Washington's army returns to camp near Germantown. 

Sept. 25, 1777, British army occupies Germantown. 

October 4,1777, Battle of Germantown. 

October 19, 1777, British army leaves Germantown, moving into Philadelphia. 

1793, Yellow fever drives many citizens, President Washington and 

members of his Cabinet from Philadelphia to Germantown. 

1794, Washington spends six weeks in Germantown to escape heat o f 

summer. 
1796-7, Gilbert Stuart paints portraits of Washington, in Germantown . 
1796, Yellow fever again fills Germantown with refugees from 
Philadelphia; also in 1797, 1798 and 1799. 

February 12, 1801, Germantown Turnpike incorporated. 

July 20, 1825, Lafayette visits Germantown. 

June 6, 1832, Steam railroad to Germantown opened. 

1854, Germantown ceases to be an independent borough and is 
created the 22d ward of Philadelphia. 



A PARTIAL BIBLIOGRA- a 
PHY OF GERMANTOWN § 



Those who may wish to learn more of the history of 
Germantown and its vicinity are referred to the following 
works : 

The Settlement of Germantown, by the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker. 

Watson's Annals, Volume II, pages 16 to 72 and elsewhere. 

Walks in Germantown, by Townsend Ward, published in the Pennsylvania Magazine 

of History and Biography, beginning Vol. V, No. 1. 
Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, by the Rev. S. F. Hotchkin. 
History of Germantown Academy, edited by Horace W. Smith, published 1882. 
The German Pietists of Pennsylvania, by Julius F. Sachse, published 1895. 
The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania, by Julius F. Sachse. Two volumes. Volume 

I, published 1889, covers 1708-1742. Volume II, published 1900, covers 1742- 

1800. 
History of the German Baptist Brethren Church, by George N. Falkenstein. 
A History of the German Baptist Brethren (Dunkards), by Martin G. Brumbaugh, 

Ph.D. Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, 111., 1899. 
The Old York Road and Its Early Associations > 1670-1870 by Mrs. Anne deB. 

Mears, published in Philadelphia, 1890, by Harper & Brother. 
A Century of Germantown Methodism, by Robert Thomas, published by German- 
town Independent, 1895. 
The Battle of Germantown, by Dr. A. C. Lambdin, published in the Pennsylvania 

Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. I, No. 1. 
Rare and Notable Plants of Germantown, by Edwin C. Jellett, Germantown, 1904. 
Sally Wister's Journal, edited by Albert Cook Meyers, Ferris & Leach, 1902. 
Memoir of Charles J. Wister, by Charles J. Wister, Jr., privately printed, 1866. 
History of Old Germantown, by Dr. Naaman H. Keyser and others. 
Washington in Germantown, by Charles F. Jenkins, 1905. 
Jefferson's Germantown Letters by Charles T. Jackson, 1906. 
Lafayette's Visit to Germantown by Charles F. Jenkins, 1911. 
Life of Francis Daniel Pastorius by Marion Dexter Learned, 1908. 



io Historic Germantown 

In addition to this list there are other articles in the Pennsylvania Magazine 
relating to Germantown, reference to which may be had by consulting the indices 
of the various volumes. Also the Annual Volumes of the Pennsylvania German 
Society. 

The following genealogies relating to Germantown 
families contain some local historical information: 

The Shoemaker Family, by Thomas H. Shoemaker, Philadelphia, 1893. 
History of the Bringhurst Family, by Josiah Granville Leach, Philadelphia, 1901. 
Genealogy of the Fisher Family, by Anna Wharton Smith, Philadelphia, 1896. 
Thones Kunders and His Children, by Henry C. Conrad, Wilmington, 1891. 
Genealogy of the Roberdeau Family, by Roberdeau Buchanan, 1876. 
Christopher Sower and His Descendants (chart), by Charles G. Sower, 1887. 
Genea-Bibliographical History of the Rittenhouse Family, by Daniel K. Cassel* 

1897. 
The Levering Family, by Colonel John Levering, 1897. (Wigard Levering, the 

immigrant, settled first in Germantown but removed to Roxborough.) 
The Keyser Family, compiled by Charles S. Keyser, 1889. 
History of the Cassel Family, by Daniel K. Cassel, 1896. 
Kulp Family History, by Daniel K. Cassel, 1895. 
Weygandt Family, by Ethan Allen Weaver, published in Family Record, Newburgh, 

1897. 
Funk Family History, by Rev. A. J. Fretz. 

The following works of fiction have more or less con- 
nection with Germantown: 

Pemberton; or a Hundred Years Ago, by Henry Peterson. 

Hugh Wynne, by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell. 

The Legends of the American Revolution, 1776, by George Lippard. 

Washington and His Men, by George Lippard. 

The Passing of Thomas, by Thomas A. Janvier. 

C iveden, by Kenyon West. 



IPREFACE 



FEW towns or cities of our country possess the his- 
torical associations of Colonial and Revolutionary 
times that attach to our suburb of Germantown. Its 
conception and settlement, the nationality and character 
of its early settlers, its architecture, its industrial life and 
enterprise (for it was the cradle of some of our greatest 
industries), all early gave it marked individuality. It was 
the threshold over which entered the great German im- 
migration which brought many modifications in language, 
manners and religion to the commonwealth and nation. 
Germantown was the scene of a fierce conflict which had 
considerable influence on the destiny of the infant nation. 
It was the home, on two occasions, of the President of the 
United States and members of his cabinet, making it, to 
that extent, the seat of Government of the country. All 
these incidents and more make it an important spot in our 
country's history and growth. 

Fortunately during the period which brought so many 
changes, and obliterated so many of the historical land- 
marks in all our old cities, Germantown slumbered quietly, 



ii 



12 Historic Germantown 

and, off from the path of so-called progress and improve- 
ment, there are, consequently, left in it many landmarks 
of the last century. 

A complete history of Germantown is yet to be writ- 
ten. In no one place can be found a full and consecutive 
account of the settlement, rise and progress of the town. 
Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, in his "Settlement of Ger- 
mantown," has covered with great thoroughness the causes 
which led to the German immigration and the settlement 
itself ; Mr. Julius F. Sachse, in his several histories of the 
German sects, makes unnecessary any further research in 
this direction; the Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, in his "German- 
town and Chestnut Hill, ,, has brought together much 
valuable local information; Townsend Ward, in his 
"Walks in Germantown, ,, published in the Pennsylvania 
Magazine, Volumes V and VI, gives a wealth of local 
incident and tradition, but unfortunately he died before 
his labors were completed, his walks extending only to 
near the centre of the town. Admirable in the field which 
it covers is Mr. Edwin C. Jellett's "Rare and Notable 
Plants of Germantown, " reprinted in book form from a 
series of articles which appeared in the Independent- 
Gazette. Dr. Marion D. Learned has prepared the final 
and satisfactory "Life of Francis Daniel Pastorius, ,, the 



Preface 13 

leader of the German immigrants. In "Watson's Annals" 
are many incidents of local history. Dr. Alfred C. Lamb- 
din, in his scholarly address on the "One Hundredth 
Anniversary of the Battle of Germantown," gives a full 
and comprehensive account of this important incident in 
the town's history, and in many other places are to be 
found scraps of historical material, but no one has as yet 
brought all together in a complete and harmonious whole. 

This little book is not a history of Germantown. Its 
aim is to present in as brief a way as possible the main 
historic facts connected with the town, and to arrange 
these facts in such a way that the sightseer may have no 
trouble in finding and identifying each particular site. 

The thanks and indebtedness of the Society are due to 
Mr. Thomas H. Shoemaker, whose unequalled store of 
information and collection of photographs and prints of 
ancient Germantown has been largely drawn upon. Also 
to the Rev. Francis Heyl, to whose care was committed 
a portion of the work of writing; to Dr. Naaman H. 
Keyser, a life-long student of the town's history, whose 
collections of material have been freely placed at the dis- 
posal of the writer, and to General Louis Wagner, Mr. 
Francis Howard Williams, Mr. William E. Chapman, 
and Miss Anne H. Cresson for valuable information. 



HOWTO REACH § 
GERMANTOWN ^ 

GERMANTOWN is reached by steam cars via the 
Pennsylvania Railroad from Broad Street Station 
and the Philadelphia and Reading Road from the Reading 
Terminal. The former road skirts the west of the town 
and the latter the east. On the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
Queen Lane Station is near the Manheim cricket grounds 
and makes a good starting point to visit the places de- 
scribed in the chapter, page 137. Chelten Avenue Station 
is near the centre of the town and nearest the Rittenhouse 
House and site of the first paper mill, while Upsal Station 
is nearest the Chew House. Wayne Junction Station, on 
the Reading Road, is located at the extreme lower end of 
the Main Street of Germantown, and is a very good start- 
ing point for a sight-seeing tour. Chelten Avenue Station 
on the Reading Road will bring the tourist near the centre 
of the town. Germantown may also be reached by the 
trolley cars on Seventh Street (take cars marked Mt. 
Airy), also on Eleventh Street (take cars marked Mt. 
Airy or Chestnut Hill), and by the Germantown trolley 
on Thirteenth Street. The "Mt. Airy" and "Chestnut 
Hill" cars traverse the Main Street, or the old and 



H 



How to Reach Germantown 1 5 

historic portion of the town, while the Thirteenth Street 
cars traverse Wayne Avenue (which is two long squares 
west of the Main Street), passing through the modern 
residence section. The trip out by trolley takes from fifty 
minutes to an hour. Fare, 5 cents. 

The Reading Railroad to Germantown was the first 
railroad operated in Philadelphia. In 1827 Edward H. 
Bonsall and Joseph Leibert visited Mauch Chunk to see 
the great marvel, the gravity road. On their return they 
proceeded to awaken public interest in a railroad to Ger- 
mantown. A charter was obtained, and so eager were the 
public to invest that for every five shares subscribed three 
were allotted. John G. Watmough was elected President 
and Edward H. Bonsall, Treasurer. 

The road was opened June 6th, 1832. The cars made 
six trips a day, drawn by horses. November 23d, follow- 
ing, the first locomotive, "Old Ironsides," probably the 
first made in the United States, made by Matthias W. 
Baldwin, the founder of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 
was placed on the road. Crowds assembled at Ninth and 
Green Streets, the Philadelphia terminus, to see the train 
pass. Farmers came long distances to see its arrival in 
Germantown. Almost every one is now familiar with 
the notice which stated that, when it rained, horses would 
draw the train, as the engine was not taken out in the wet. 
For an illustration and short account of "Old Ironsides," 
see Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. XI, p. 80. 



From the Latin of Francis Daniel Pastorius in the 
German town Records. 1688. 

Hail to Posterity! 
Hail, future men of Germanopolis ! 
Let the young generations yet to be 

Look kindly upon this. 
Think how your fathers left their native land, — 
Dear German-land ! O sacred hearths and homes ! — 
And, where the wild beast roams, 
In patience planned 
New forest-homes beyond the mighty sea, 

Then undisturbed and free 

To live as brothers of one family. 

What pains and cares befell, 

What trials and what fears, 
Remember, and wherein we have done well 
Follow our footsteps men of coming years! 
Where we have failed to do 
Aright, or wisely live, 
Be warned by us, the better way pursue, 
And, knowing we were human, even as you, 
Pity us and forgive! 
Farewell, Posterity! 
Farewell, dear Germany! 
Forevermore farewell ! 

John G. Whittier. 



16 



HISTORIC 
GERMANTOWN 

THE SETTLEMENT 
OF GERMANTOWN 

THE first settlers of Germantown came from the 
country of the lower Rhine, not far from the 
borders of Holland. The purchase of land was 
made through the Frankfort Company, of which Francis 
Daniel Pastorius was the agent in America for a number 
of years. 

In 1683 thirteen families, including in all thirty-three 
persons, set out from Crefeld, their native town, for Lon- 
don, where passage had been engaged for them to Penn- 
sylvania in the ship Concord, by James Claypole, a 
Quaker merchant of that city, who was to be their fellow 
passenger. On the 24th of July they sailed from London, 
and arrived in Philadelphia the 6th of October. They 
were met on landing by Pastorius, who had preceded them 
a few weeks. On the 24th of October Thomas Fairman, 
the surveyor of the Province, laid out their land in the 
township, afterwards called Germantown, and on the 

17 



1 8 Historic Germantown 

next day the immigrants met in the cave of Pastorius on 
the bank of the Delaware and made selection of the plots 
of land by lot. Having done this, they proceeded at once 
to clear their land and erect dwellings before the winter 
should overtake them. 

The following are the names of the thirteen settlers: 

Abraham Op den Graeff , Thones Kunders, 

Herman Op den Graeff, Reynier Tyson, 

Dirck Op den Graeff, Jan Lucken, 

Lenart Arets, Johannes Bleikers, 

Jan Seimens, Peter Keurlis, 

Willem Streypers, Abraham Tunes, 
Jan Lensen. 

They were all Friends or Mennonites, but just how 
they were divided between these two bodies is not known. 
Before their departure from Germany there had been a 
Friends' Monthly Meeting held at Crefeld, which was 
discontinued immediately after their departure, indicating 
that all or nearly all the full body of members had gone. 
By 1690, when the village of Germantown had grown to 
forty-four families, twenty-eight of them were Friends 
and the other sixteen of other religious faiths. 




>9 



2o Historic Germantown 

The next year (1684) other immigrants arrived and 
thereafter a steady flow of settlers from Germany and the 
Rhine provinces came to Pennsylvania, the majority pass- 
ing through Germantown. Many remained in the town, 
among them the ancestors of some of our present day fami- 
lies, — the Keysers, Shoemakers, Johnsons, Rittenhouses, 
Leverings, Saurs, etc. Germantown was the threshold 
over which entered into the new country the various 
German sects, the Dunkards, Lutherans, Swenkfelders, 
etc., now occupying the southeastern portion of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

On the 13th of February, 1694, a number of Pietists, 
originally from Germany, embarked at London on the 
ship Sarah Maria for Pennsylvania. After many adven- 
tures the ship entered the Chesapeake and landed the 
immigrants in Maryland, whence they journeyed overland 
to Germantown. These men, with Johannes Kelpius as 
their Superior, took up their residence on the Ridge, as 
the high land between the Wissahickon and Schuylkill is 
called. Here they built a tabernacle of logs. They spent 
their time mostly in seclusion, engaged in religious devo- 
tion, in the study of astronomy and the occult arts. These 
men gradually passed away, the Hermitage, in Hermits' 
Lane, near the Wissahickon, being one of the few re- 
minders of their existence. 



The Settlement of Germantown 2 1 

The early settlers brought with them the habits of 
industry and thrift which characterize the German race. 
In addition to the cultivation of the soil, which was never 
their main dependence, they brought various trades with 
them. Many were linen weavers. In 1686 Abraham Op 
den Graeff petitioned the Council to grant him the Gov- 
ernor's premium for "The first and finest piece of linen 
cloth," and as early as 1692 Richard Fraeme wrote: 

"The Germantown of which I spoke before 
Which is at least in length one mile or more, 
Where lives High German people and Low Dutch 
Whose trade in weaving cloth is much, — 
Here grows the Flax as also you may know 
That from the same they do divide the tow." 

Later the manufacture of stockings from the famous 
Germantown wool was begun, and by 1760 the Rev. 
Andrew Burnaby writes: — "The Germantown thread 
stockings are in high estimation and the year before last 
I have been credibly informed there were manufactured 
in that town alone above 60,000 dozen pairs, their com- 
mon retail price a dollar per pair." 

"The earliest settlers used to make good linens and 
vend them in Philadelphia. They were also distinguished, 



22 Historic Germantown 

even till modern times, for their fabric of Germantown 
stockings. This fact induced the Bank of Germantown 
to adopt a seal, with such a loom upon it. The linen 
sellers and weavers used to stand with the goods for sale 
on the edge of the pavement in Market Street, on the 
north side, near to Second Street corner. The cheapness 
of imported stockings is now ruining their business." — 
Watson s Annals. 

The Borough of Germantown early adopted a label to 
mark their goods so that their excellent quality would be 
more easily distinguished. 

About this time the tanning industry had assumed 
considerable importance, as the following letter from John 
Morgan, Jr., dated at Reading, Pa., December 23d, 1777, 
while Philadelphia was occupied by the British Army, 
shows : — 

"I understand that all the stocking weavers at Ger- 
mantown with their looms and out of work supposed to 
be one hundred, also six or seven tanners who have large 
tan yards full of leather, part of which is nearly tanned; 
they might easily be removed. Query: — Are they not 
objects worthy of notice of Council? Should the enemy 
determine to stay or leave Philadelphia this winter they 
will probably destroy them which would be a great loss 
to this State. ,, 



The Settlement of Germantown 23 

As has been pointed out elsewhere, the manufacture 
of paper was first begun in Germantown in 1690. 

This pre-eminence in manufacturing, first encouraged 
by the character and skill of the early settlers and carried 
on by them in their homes, has continued to the present 
time, as the great number of factories and important 
manufacturing plants in the neighborhood testify. 



9 

I THE ANCIENT TOWN § 

FOR many years Germantown consisted of a long, 
straggling village extending for nearly two miles 
along the Main Street. The appearance of the town was 
thoroughly German and continued so down through the 
period of the Revolution. The language of conversation 
among the inhabitants was mainly in German, until even 
a later period. The prevalence of yellow fever in Phila- 
delphia in 1793, and again in later years, caused many 
Philadelphians to take up their residence in Germantown, 
which made many changes in the language and customs 
of the town. 

As originally laid out there were to be four distinct 
villages along the Main road, all within the limits of what 
is now Germantown. 

Roughly their boundaries were: Germantown from 
the present Wayne Junction to the Abington Road, now 
Washington Lane ; Cresheim from this point to about the 
Mermaid Tavern; Sommerhausen to about one-eighth of 
a mile above Chestnut Hill; and Crefeld to Streeper's 
Mill, which was where the turnpike crosses the Wissa- 
hickon at the foot of Chestnut Hill. 



24 




25 



i6 Historic Germantown 

In later years the settlement above Upsal Street, sur- 
rounding the Dunkard Church, was called Beggarstown, 
for the origin of which name there are several theories. 
This name has, however, passed entirely away, but in the 
dispatches and descriptions of the Battle of Germantown, 
it is frequently used. 

The early homes of the settlers were first of logs and 
later of the rough, dark, native stone. Built with their 
gables in the road, they had over-hanging hipped roofs 
and a projecting pent over the doorstep, as is still seen in 
the Engle house, No. 5938 Main Street; the door was 
divided in the middle to keep out stray animals, but with 
the upper portion open to admit air and light; on either 
side of the front door were little benches; the windows 
were small, usually swinging on hinges. 

The sombre coloring of the houses, the solidity and 
air of comfort and thrift surrounding them, the rows of 
trees along the streets, the orchards and spacious farm 
buildings in the rear, are mentioned as prominent charac- 
teristics by many of the early travelers who have described 
the village. 

As the tracts of land along the Main Street were sold 
and divided up they usually retained their full depth, so 
that the owners might have their wood and pasture lots 



The Ancient Town 27 

in the rear, with the house on the Main Street. As more 
land was sold, these strips became still more narrow, so 
that at the time of the Revolution it was over and through 
these dividing walls and fences that the divisions of the 
American army were compelled to advance, greatly re- 
tarding their progress and affording protection to the 
retreating British. 

At the centre of the town was the market place and 
at the upper and lower ends were the two public burial 
grounds. On the east were several mills run by the 
waters of the Wingohocking, then a considerable stream, 
and on the west were even a greater number scattered 
along the Wissahickon. The cross roads of the town 
connected it with these mills and the ferry over the 
Schuylkill. The Abington Road, now Washington Lane, 
led to Abington Meeting. It was many years before any 
streets parallel with the Main Street were opened. 

About the middle of the eighteenth century, owing to 
the increase in wealth in Pennsylvania and particularly in 
Germantown, and the coming to the town of wealthy 
Philadelphians who made their summer homes here, larger 
and better houses were built, of which the Dirck Keyser 
house, No. 6205 Main Street, is an example. There are 
yet many of these well built houses remaining, and it was 



28 Historic Germantown 

to arouse public sentiment to an appreciation of their artis- 
tic beauty, that they may be spared for many years as 
monuments of the early architecture, that the Site and 
Relic Society of Germantown was formed. 




§ THE MAIN STREET 

Iqaaaaaaqaqaaaa0r>D&r>r>iD&r>i3&r)i 

GERMANTOWN Avenue, Germantown Road, or 
the Great Road, as it was anciently called, is said 
to follow what was an old Indian trail. It is still quite 
crooked, although it has been straightened some. As late 
as 1777, the year of the Battle, there were less than six 
cross roads. It therefore follows that what is of most 
historic interest is centered in the buildings along the 
Main Street, those on the cross streets being comparatively 
modern. But outlying at some distance, both on the east 
and west, there are historic points which come within the 
compass of what is now Germantown. It is proposed, as 
a matter of convenience, to take the visitor along the 
Main Street, with very short side trips from it, and then 
consider the historic sites on each side of the town which 
can best be visited in separate expeditions. 

Years ago the Germantown Road was called the worst 
road in the United States. The soil was of such a nature 
that in summer it was ground to fine, choking dust, while 
in winter and spring it was almost impassable for wheeled 
vehicles on account of the mud. The story is told of a 
gentleman who was building a house on the other side of 



29 



3<d Historic Germantown 

the road from his home, and saddled his horse to ride 
across in safety. In 1800-1 the road was macadamized, 
forming part of the Germantown and Perkiomen Turn- 
pike. The old toll house stood at Rittenhouse Street. 
Some of the mile stones erected by the Turnpike Company 
are still standing, one being at the corner of Main Street 
and Cliveden Avenue. 

* 'Another great era of public benefit, now but little 
considered, was the formation of the Germantown turn- 
pike — a measure got up chiefly through the exertions of 
Casper Haines. The common road through German- 
town, before this time, at the breaking up of the winter, 
as well as at some other times, was impassable for wheel 
carriages. To that cause it was that most of the market- 
ing, going through the place to Philadelphia, was all 
carried on horseback with side panniers and hampers, 
and the most of the horses were ridden by women. Think 
what a relief they have had since those days ! It is a well 
known fact that horses and carriages have been swamped 
and lost! In going through the town (now all well 
paved), their horses would enter the mud to their knees 
at every step, and not being able to progress faster than 
two or three miles an hour, and then often endangered. 
Now what a change do we witness! No men or women 
now on horseback with marketing, but going with easy 
spring dearborns at five and six miles an hour, as easy and 



The Main Street 3 1 

safe as if in state carriages. Even wagon loads of hay can 
be seen sometimes passing at a trot!" — Watsons Annals. 

Starting at Wayne Junction, which we may well con- 
sider the southern boundary of the town, we should first 
make a short excursion to Stenton, four or five squares 
distant. The Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames 
has erected a sign post under the railroad bridge and one 
at each corner until Stenton is reached. The property is 
now in their charge and open at any time on application 
to the caretaker, but the best time to visit it is Saturday 
afternoons during May and June, and again in October, 
when the building is open and tea is served by the ladies 
of the Society to their guests. The house is partially 
furnished. The admission fee is 15 cents. 

Stenton was erected in 1727-34, by James Logan, for 
many years William Penn's able and faithful secretary. 
The house is 55 feet front by 42 feet deep, with servants* 
quarters attached at the rear. From the cellar is an 
underground passageway leading to the stables, and some 
say, to the family burial ground beyond. 

Stenton was occupied by General Washington on the 
evening of August 23d, 1777, when the American Army 
was on its way to oppose Howe at Brandywine, and Gen- 
eral Howe was quartered here later at the time of the 



32 Historic Germantown 

Battle. Washington also spent the day and dined with 
Dr. Logan, Sunday, July 8th, 1787, when he was attend- 
ing the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. 

During the winter of British occupation an order was 
issued to burn all the mansions between Germantown and 
Philadelphia and seventeen were consumed at one time. 
Stenton is said to have been saved by the ready wit of the 
old colored woman left in charge. The two British dra- 
goons who came to burn it went to the barn to get some 
straw to start the flames. While they were gone a British 
officer rode up looking for deserters. The old woman, in 
answer to his questions, said she had seen two men who 
looked like deserters and that they had just gone to the 
barn. Just then the soldiers returned and despite their 
indignant protests and explanations the officer seized them 
and marched them off to the provost guard. Stenton was 
saved for the time and the efforts to burn it were not 
repeated. A stone marker with an appropriate tablet 
records this incident. 

Nos. 4518 and 4520 Main Street is the old house of 
the Neglees. At the time of the Battle it was occupied 
by two sisters. As one of them was feeding the chickens 
she was startled by the noise of firearms. She quickly 




Thones Kunder's House, 5109 Main Street 



33 



34 Historic Germantown 

retired to the house and locked the windows and doors. 
After the battle two straggling "Red Coats" entered the 
house and asked for something to eat. When they left 
they took all they could carry with them. One of the 
soldiers asked: "Had the army gone down yet?" To 
which one of the sisters replied : "Which army, the Ameri- 
can or British?" This so angered the questioner that he 
drew his bayonet, and rushing toward her would have 
injured her had not her sister interfered. After the war 
the sister first named married John Harshey, a Hessian, 
who was captured by Washington at Trenton and who 
settled in this country, becoming a valued citizen. 

The hill which starts at this point has been called 
Logan's Hill, but the common name is Neglee's Hill, from 
the Neglee family whose house appears nearby on a map 
of 1750. 

Loudoun, the large house standing out on the brow of 
the hill, northwest corner of Apsley and Main Streets, 
was built in 1801 by Thomas Armat for his son. It is 
called "Loudoun" from the fact that Thomas Armat first 
settled in Loudoun County, Va. At the time of the 
Battle the wounded Americans were carried to the top 
of the hill on which the house stands, and later removed 



The Main Street 35 

in wagons to the city. It is said many of the dead were 
buried here. The house is now occupied by the Logan 
family, descendant alike of James Logan, of Stenton, and 
Thomas Armat. 

No. 4810 Main Street is the Toland house, built 
about 1740. At the time of the Battle the house was the 
home of George Miller, an officer in the American army. 
On the night of the arrival of the British army in Ger- 
mantown more than a dozen officers were quartered here. 
Jacob Miller, the son of George, related in later life his 
experience with them. Among other incidents one of the 
officers was taken ill, and Jacob, armed with a pass, was 
sent for assistance. At every little distance along the road 
he was challenged by a sentinel, but he got what was 
wanted and returned in safety. Jacob's mother was set to 
work baking bread for the officers. She was required to 
return in weight an amount equal to the flour she received, 
and as 100 pounds of flour will make about 130 pounds of 
bread, she had considerable flour left to pay her for her 
trouble. 

No. 4817 Main Street has been called the Mehl house 
for the family that occupied it a hundred years ago. Some 



36 Historic Germantown 

soldiers killed in the Battle are said to have been buried 
at the gateway. 

No. 4825 Main Street, the Ottinger house, was built 
in 1781 by Christopher Ottinger, a soldier of the Penn- 
S5dvania line, who volunteered at the age of 17. The 
walls are two feet thick, even the partition on the first 
floor being of stone. The rafters of the rear building 
are of unhewn trees. 

Captain Douglas Ottinger, son of the above, the in- 
ventor of the Ottinger life car, was born here December 
11th, 1804. In 1849 he equipped eight life-saving stations 
on the New Jersey coast with complete and effective life- 
saving apparatus. He was a captain in the U. S. Revenue 
Marine. 

No. 4840 Main Street, called the Wagner house, was 
used as one of the main hospitals after the Battle. The 
big wooden doors of the stable in the rear were taken from 
their hinges and arranged as operating tables. The house 
belonged to Samuel Mechlin and his family, who left 
Germantown on the arrival of the British army. Mechlin 
was a tanner, and everything of value about the house was 
seized, including a quantity of hides, which were after- 




37 



38 Historic Germantown 

ward recovered. The floors still show the blood stains of 
the wounded. Many died here and were buried in a 
trench in the rear. Seventy years ago some workmen in 
digging a post hole unearthed a number of relics which 
evidently had belonged to Hessian soldiers. The house 
was built in 1747 and is owned and occupied by Miss 
Jane Wagner, a descendant of General Peter Muhlen- 
berg. 

No. 4908 Main Street is called the Henry house, 
having been in possession of that family for many years. 
The oldest portion was erected in 1760, but additions 
were made later. In 1828 it was bought by John S. 
Henry, the father of Alexander Henry, three times mayor 
of the city and member of Congress. The latter passed 
here the greater portion of his youth. 

Opposite the Henry house, occupying the northeast 
corner of East Logan Street and Main Street, is the 
Lower Germantown Burial Ground, sometimes called 
Hood's Burying Ground. Here are the remains of many 
of the early families of Germantown and their descend- 
ants. Note the quaint old gravestone built in the corner 
of the wall with its inscription, "Memendo Mory" and 
symbolic cross-bones. Also the stone some thirty feet 



The Main Street 39 

from Main Street and ten from the north wall, erected 
by John F. Watson, the annalist, over the graves of 
General Agnew and Colonel Bird, British officers, killed 
at the Battle of Germantown. Some doubt exists as to 
whether the remains still repose here. A monument was 
recently erected to their memory in the De Benneville 
graveyard at Branchtown. Near the front gateway is the 
grave of Christian Frederick Post, a noted Moravian 
missionary to the Indians. The oldest stone in the yard 
is that of Joseph Coulston, 1707-8. Note also the stone 
with the inscription: 

"He was noble hearted & amiable & 
Intelligent, having been awarded 
A silver goblet for a literary 
Production at the age of 18." 

The marble wall at the front was erected with money 
left for the purpose by William Hood, a resident of Ger- 
mantown, who accumulated wealth and died in Paris in 
1850. 

The graveyard was presented to the borough of Ger- 
mantown in 1693 by Jan Streepers. Note tablet on front 
wall. 



40 Historic Germantown 

No. 51OQ Main Street occupies the site of Thones 
Kunder's home, one of the original settlers of German- 
town, and, so far as we know, the only house of an 
original immigrant that can be accurately located. Notice 
the north wall of the building; while it has all been plas- 
tered over you will observe that a portion of it, about ten 
feet high and extending back, is of a different shade from 
the remainder of the wall. It is thought that this is the 
old wall of Thones Kunder's original dwelling, and it is 
said, in the many plasterings the house has had, they have 
never been able to get the old portion and the new to be 
exactly the same shade. 

The first meetings of the Society of Friends in Ger- 
mantown were held at this house, and it was from the 
members of this little meeting that a public protest against 
slavery was issued as early as 1688. The paper was 
written by Pastorius, signed by him and three others, and, 
being appropriately referred to their monthly and quar- 
terly meetings, it was forwarded to and weightily con- 
sidered in the yearly meeting held at Burlington. 

Thones Kunder was a dyer by trade. His death 
occurred in the fall of 1729. He was the ancestor of 
the Conard and Conrad families. Among his descend- 
ants is included Sir Samuel Cunard, the founder of the 



The Main Street 41 

Cunard Steamship Line, whose ancestors migrated to Nova 
Scotia at the time or after the Revolutionary War, they 
having taken the Royalist side. The first tablet erected 
by the Site and Relic Society in Germantown was placed 
on this dwelling. 

One square west on the south side of Manheim Street, 
at the southwest corner of Manheim and Portico Streets, 
is the house once owned by Jacques Marie Roset, born in 
France in 1765, who came to this country in 1792. While 
passing up Chestnut Street on his arrival, with several of 
his countrymen, they met General Washington, who, 
recognizing them as Frenchmen, saluted them in French, 
"Bien venu en Amerique, ,, an incident which Roset re- 
membered with pleasure during his life. He died in 
his 80th year and is buried in the Lutheran ground. 
A daughter of his oldest son, Mr. John Roset, married 
the late Anthony J. Drexel. Notice the stone on the 
Spring Alley side of the house; also the one in front, 
naming the street Manheim Square. Mr. Roset lived 
on the opposite side of the street. It was he who first 
introduced the tomato plant into Germantown. 

No. 5106 Main street was occupied by Commodore 
James Barron in 1842, when in command of the Phil- 



42 Historic Germantown 

adelphia Navy Yard. It was he who was in command 
of the Chesapeake when she was fired upon by the 
British ship Leopard, June 23d, 1807, and who killed 
Stephen Decatur in a duel in the famous duelling ground 
at Bladensburg, Md., March 23d, 1820. 

No. £14.0 Main Street was occupied by Gilbert 
Stuart, the famous painter, about the period 1796 to 
1800. While living in Philadelphia his daughter says: 
"My father at this time was so inundated with visitors, 
he found it impossible to attend to his profession. " He 
consequently removed to Germantown, occupying this 
house and fitting up a barn in the rear as his studio. 

The second story or barn floor was used as the studio 
proper, while the lower floor was used to mix paints, 
etc. For many years, indeed until the barn was de- 
stroyed by an incendiary fire, marks of paint were ob- 
servable on the walls. A small portion of the walls of 
the barn remained after the fire and these were care- 
fully preserved and covered with ivy until about fifteen 
years ago, when they were removed. 

Here, on the authority of Watson, the annalist, and 
Gilbert Stuart's daughter, were painted the famous por- 
trait of Washington, now in possession of the Athenaeum 




43 



44 Historic Germantown 

of Boston, and also the so-called Marquis of Lansdowne 
portrait, now in possession of the Philadelphia Academy 
of the Fine Arts. 

The story is told that when Washington visited the 
studio for his sittings he was in the habit of walking into 
the garden and eating fruit from the apple tree which 
was standing until within a few years ago. 

On the authority of Watson here also was executed a 
full-length portrait of Cornplanter, the famous Indian 
chief. 

Nos. 5203 and 5205 Main Street, formerly one 
dwelling house, is now well on to a century old. At 
one time it was occupied by Dr. Theodore Ashmead, 
and later by Dr. Betton. Here July 14th, 1860, was 
born Owen Wister, the distinguished story writer. His 
parents were Dr. Owen J. and Sarah Butler Wister, 
the latter a daughter of Pierce and Fanny Kemble Butler. 
The family were residing here temporarily while the 
house 5253 Main Street was being built by Dr. Wister. 
The Wisters continued living at 5253 Main street until 
1870, when they removed to Butler place, on the York 
Road. See reference to the latter in another chapter. 



The Main Street 45 

St. Stephen s Methodist Church was opened in 1856. 
The story is told that it was then such a plain and unpre- 
tentious building that it was often mistaken for a factory. 
When in 1857 a new pastor came to take charge, bringing 
his family with him, his daughter on catching sight of the 
building, exclaimed, "Oh! Papa, what factory is that?" 
"That, my daughter," he replied, "is the factory I am 
going to work in." The present attractive building gives 
no indication of its plain beginning. 

On this site stood the carpenter shop of Frederick 
Fraley. Tradition says that these shops were used for 
the manufacture of gun carriages for the American army 
and that they were burned by the British during the Revo- 
lution. Watson mentions that Washington was a fre- 
quent visitor at Fraley's carpenter shops. In later years 
the latter was a drum maker. 

No. 5214 Main Street has been called the Hacker 
house, from the fact that for a long period it was occupied 
by Isaiah Hacker. It was at one time the home of David 
Hayfield Conyngham. It marks a position of the British 
army's encampment at Germantown, as the following 
paragraph will disclose: 

"The main body of the British occupied ground 



46 Historic Germantown 

nearly at right angles with the main street. The front 
line on the Schoolhouse Lane to the west, and the Church 
Lane (its opposite) to the east. The park was in the area, 
south of the market-house, and fronting the house of 
David Deshler (now S. B. Morris*), in which General 
Howe had his quarters. The second line formed a parallel, 
at about one-fourth of a mile in the rear, and flanking the 
road near the old six-mile stone, before the door of H. 
Conyngham, Esq."- — Watsons Annals. 

No. 52 19 Main Street was owned from 1775 until his 
death in 1795 by John Bringhurst. He was a prominent 
citizen of Germantown and one of the founders of the 
Academy. He was among the first to engage in the build- 
ing of the well-known "Germantown" wagons. In 1780 
he built a "chariot" for General Washington, the price of 
which was £210 in gold. Washington was particular 
that it have its "arms and crest properly disp'd of on the 
chariot." When Martha Washington set out for Mount 
Vernon in June, 1780, she rode in the new vehicle. Bring- 
hurst's "Big House," southeast corner of Main and Bring- 
hurst Streets, now occupied by a store, is where Colonel 
Bird, one of the British officers wounded in the Battle, 
died, saying as he passed away: "Woman, pray for me. 
I leave a wife and four children in England." 



The Main Street 47 

In 1760 John Brfnghurst and his brother George 
conveyed the ground used by the school to the trustees of 
the Germantown Academy. For many years John was 
one of the trustees. 

No. 5253 Main Street occupies the site of what was 
Christopher Saur's home and printing establishment. 
Christopher Saur, his wife and their son Christopher, 
reached Germantown in 1724. Later they removed to 
Lancaster County, but father and son returned to Ger- 
mantown in 1731. In 1738 he secured a printing outfit 
from Germany, and in 1739 he began to issue the first 
German newspaper in America. In 1743 he issued the 
first Bible in a European language printed in America. 
This was forty years before an English Bible was printed 
in the Colonies. Subsequent editions were issued by 
Christopher Saur, 2d, in 1763 and 1776. Here also was 
printed in 1770 the first book in America on the subject 
of education. 

Christopher Saur, the father, died September 25th, 
1758. The son had become a Bishop of the Dunkard 
Church in 1753, but continued printing until the Revo- 
lution, when, because he would not take the oath of 
allegiance to the State, his printing effects were seized 
and sold. He died August 26th, 1784, poor. 



48 Historic Germantown 

The old house stood close to the street, with a build- 
ing in the rear, where was the printing plant. The Saurs 
cast the first type made in America about the year 1772 
or 1773. 

"As Printing Types are now made to a considerable 
degree of perfection by an ingenious Artist in German- 
town; it is recommended to the Printers to use such 
Types in preference to any which may be hereafter im- 
ported." — Pennsylvania Gazette, February 1st, 1775. 

The house and outbuildings were removed and re- 
placed by the present dwelling about the year 1860. 

Nos. 5242 and 5244 Main Street, now a store, was 
formerly the Indian Queen, a noted tavern, which gave 
name to the street alongside. This was formerly Bow- 
man^ Lane, then Indian Queen Lane, and now Queen 
Street. It was about at this point the following incident 
occurred : 

"The British, shortly after the Battle, concentrated in 
Philadelphia and vicinity. Directly after they left Ger- 
mantown a troop of American horsemen came through 
the town upon their rear, so closely that a British surgeon, 
who had just left dressing the wounds of three American 
officers, prisoners in the widow Hess' house, was over- 




49 



50 Historic Germantown 

taken on foot in the street. When they were about to 
arrest him, W. Fryhoffer, who saw it, and knew the facts 
of the case, proclaimed his useful services, and he was 
told to walk to the city at his ease. In the meantime the 
three officers were taken as prizes and thus unexpectedly 
liberated. The same troop, advancing a little further, 
encountered a Quaker-looking man in a chaise, who, in 
trepidation, made a short turn at Bowman's Lane and 
upset, and thus exposed a large basketful of plate. He 
and his treasure were captured and ordered off to head- 
quarters." — Watson s Annals, 

No. 5261 Main Street, the Wister house, was erected 
by John Wister in 1744, and the property is now in pos- 
session of his great-grandson, Mr. Charles J. Wister. 
The stones for the building were quarried from a hill in 
the rear of the property and the joists hewn from oaks in 
the Wister woods, a portion of which is still standing. It 
was so much larger than the average house of the time 
that it was known as Wister's "big" house. 

During the fall of 1777 the house had been left in 
charge of a German servant, Justina. The family had 
gone to Penllyn, Montgomery County, to escape possible 
annoyance by the British army, and it was while here that 
Sally Wister, a daughter of the house, wrote the ever 



The Main Street 5 1 

charming Diary* giving graphic accounts of country life 
at that trying and exciting time. 

When the British entered Germantown the house was 
occupied by General James Agnew. On the morning of 
the Battle Justina was at work in the garden and as 
General Agnew rode away he advised her to seek a place 
of safety. Justina, however, worked away unmindful of 
the happenings around her, and it was not long before 
General Agnew was carried back to the house, "bleeding 
at every vein." He was laid on the floor in the north- 
west parlor. His blood still stains the floor boards, having 
resisted a century and more of spring and fall cleanings. 
General Agnew was buried with Colonel Bird in the 
Lower Burial Ground. 

No. 5267 Main Street, while one of the oldest look- 
ing houses along the Main Street, seems not to possess any 
particular historical interest. Eighty-five years ago one 
Anthony Gilbert, a blacksmith, who lived here, was noted 
for his great physical strength. He was known to write 
his name on a board fence with a piece of chalk with five 
fifty-six pound weights hanging on his arm. 

*Sally Wister's Journal has been printed in book form, edited by Albert Cook 
Myers. It is also to be found in Howard M. Jenkins' Historical Collections relating 
to Gwynedd. 



52 Historic Germantown 

The house No. 5300 Main Street, now the Parsonage 
of the Trinity Lutheran Church, was one of the Saur 
properties. (See page 47.) The Saurs were accused of 
aiding the enemy, and this property was seized by the 
state and sold. 

There is a tradition that the type which was cast by 
the Saurs, the first to be cast in America in 1772-1773, 
was made in the cellar of this building. 

Nos. 5275 and 5277 Main Street was occupied by the 
Germantown National Bank from 1825 to 1868. The 
annalist, Watson, who was the cashier, is authority for 
the statement that this building had been at one time 
occupied by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and 
Edmund Randolph, Attorney-General of the United 
States. 

The yellow fever prevailing in Philadelphia, and Con- 
gress being soon to meet, Jefferson proceeded to Ger- 
mantown, arriving there in company with President 
Washington, November 1st, 1793. The next day he 
wrote to his friend, James Madison: 

"According to present appearances this place cannot 
lodge a single person more. As a great favor I got a bed 
in the corner of the public room of a tavern; and must 
continue till some of the Philadelphians make a vacancy 



The Main Street 53 

by removing into the city. Then we must give him from 
4 to 6 or 8 dollars a week for cuddies without a bed, and 
sometimes without a chair or table. There is not a single 
lodging house in the place (vacant ?)." 

Jefferson no doubt was successful in finding a lodging 
in this house, for on November 17th he again wrote to 
Madison : 

"I have got good lodging for Monroe and yourself; 
that is to say, a good room with a fireplace and two beds, 
in a pleasant and convenient position, with a quiet family. 
They will breakfast you but you must mess in a tavern; 
there is a good one across the street. This is the way all 
must do, and all I think will not be able to get even half 
beds." 

About the first of December danger from the fever 
having abated Washington and the members of his cabinet 
moved into Philadelphia. 

East Penn Street used to be called Shoemaker's Lane 
for Shoemaker's big house which stood on the northeast 
corner of this and the Main Street. A short distance 
beyond the Reading Railway on the left hand side going 
out is the Rock house, probably built by Isaac Shoemaker, 
son-in-law of Gerhardt Hendricks who drew lot number 
8 in the original selection. It is said to be one of the 



54 Historic Germantown 

oldest houses in Philadelphia. The low ground behind 
it at one time was called Mehl's meadow, and, with the 
Wingohocking Creek winding through it, it was a de- 
lightful spot. William Penn is said to have preached at 
one time from this elevation to the people assembled below 
him in the meadow. In this meadow, before the Battle, 
some of the British cavalry had their encampment. 

St. Luke's Church, at northeast corner of Main and 
Coulter Streets, was the first Episcopal congregation or- 
ganized in Germantown (1811). The church then con- 
tained about twelve families in and about Germantown. 
The first building on the present site was erected in 1818 
and it has been enlarged and altered many times since. 

The Friends' Meeting (connected with Arch Street 
Yearly Meeting) , occupies the grounds at the side and in 
the rear of the Linden hotel, northwest corner of Coulter 
and Main Streets. 

It has never been fully determined just how many of 
the first settlers of Germantown were members of the 
Society of Friends, but a meeting was established very 
soon after their arrival. It first met at the home of 
Thones Kunder, now 5109 Main Street, and at other pri- 
vate houses. Jacob Shoemaker early gave the meeting 



The Main Street 55 

three square perches of land, and the presumption is that 
a log meeting house was erected on it. In 1693 he con- 
veyed to the meeting fifty acres, of which the three square 
perches was a portion, and on this lot in the present old 
graveyard, along the Main Street, a stone meeting house 
was erected in 1705. This was replaced in 1812 by 
another building, which stood where the present school 
building stands, and this in turn was succeeded by the 
present building. The old stone has been placed in an 
adjoining committee building. 

"Philadelphia, June 5th. Yesterday forenoon in the 
Meeting House of the people called Quakers at German- 
town, died suddenly of an Apopletic Fit, Isaac Norris of 
Fair hill, etc. ; who for a long time most worthily presided 
in the County Court of Quarter Sessions and Common 
Pleas, Philadelphia, was a Member of Council upwards 
of 30 years and been often chosen one of the Peopled 
Representations in the Legislature of this Province, as he 
was in this Year for the County of Philadelphia. His 
great Abilities in the Discharge of his Duty in each of 
these Stations, made him to be justly esteemed one of the 
most considerable men in this Government. ,, — American 
Weekly Mercury, June 5th, 1755. 

In the Free Library, which is under the care of 
Friends of this meeting, will be found a photograph of 



56 Historic Germantown 

the Protest against Slavery which has been referred to. 
(See page 40.) Also all or nearly all of the volumes 
of the bibliography of Germantown listed on page 9. 

N°* 54 2 5 Main Street, the Masonic Hall, occupies 
the site of a building in which at one time A. Bronson 
Alcott lived, and here the distinguished authoress, Louisa 
M. Alcott, was born. Mr. Alcott came to Germantown 
to take charge of a girls* department in the Germantown 
Academy. The following letter to Colonel May, dated 
Germantown, November 29th, 1832, gives the informa- 
tion in regard to the interesting event : 

"Dear Sir: — It is with great pleasure that I announce 
to you the birth of a second daughter. She was born at 
half -past 12 this morning, on my birthday (33) and is a 
very fine healthful child, and has a fine foundation for 
health and energy of character. Abba, inclines to have 
her called Louisa May, a name to her full of every 
association connected with amiable benevolence and ex- 
alted worth. I hope its present possessor may rise to equal 
attainment and deserve a place in the estimation of 
Society. Yours, 

A. Bronson Alcott." 

The family removed from Germantown when Louisa 
Alcott was about two years of age. 



The Main Street 57 

No. 5430 Main Street was the home of Captain 
Albert Ashmead. His father, John Ashmead, lived next 
door above, 5434. When the British army entered Ger- 
mantown, Thursday morning, September 25th, 1777, little 
John Ashmead, then a boy of twelve, sat on the front 
stoop and saw them pass — tired and covered with dust. 
While the Battle was in progress he ran out into the 
street, but was captured and taken to the cellar of 'Squire 
Ferree's home, nearly opposite. After the Battle he 
sallied forth and recovered two cannon balls, one an 
English and the other American, which have remained in 
possession of the family ever since. 

Captain Albert Ashmead commanded a troop of coun- 
try cavalry and escorted General Lafayette from Tren- 
ton to Philadelphia, when the latter visited this country. 

William Ashmead, grandfather of Albert, was the 
first, soon after the Revolution, to manufacture the well- 
known Germantown wagons, his shop being in the rear 
of these houses, and the house No. 5430 was used as a 
show room, the ceilings being made high particularly for 
this purpose. When Captain Albert Ashmead married; 
the house was altered to accommodate him. 

"The first introduction of carriage building was some- 
what curious. Mr. William Ashmead, a smith, observing 



58 Historic Germantown 

the heavy build of the coaches of his day, and that they 
were mostly imported, if intended to be of a superior 
kind, bethought him to form an open-front light carriage, 
on his own plan. When it was done it was admired by 
many, and was often called for by the wealthy who wished 
to travel to distances; — among these was Mr. Bingham. 
They engaged it at a dollar a day, and it was in constant 
demand. At last, a gentleman from Maryland, who had 
seen it, came to the place to buy it. It was not for sale ; but 
he offered £120 for it, and took it. Then another and 
another was built, and orders were renewed upon Mr. 
Ashmead. Soon, increased demand occurred ; and his son 
John being made a carriage maker, received numerous 
orders for many kinds of light carriages, and especially 
for phaetons. About the same time (the time of the 
Revolution and afterwards), Mr. Bringhurst, who was 
at the time a chaise maker, went largely into the making 
of carriages. Coaches and chariots were made for £200 
and phaetons for £100. 

"The same William Ashmead, as a smith, had made 
himself a plow with a wrought iron mould-board, which 
was found to be a great improvement; and so much ad- 
mired by Lafayette, who saw its utility, that he purchased 
four of them for his La Grange farm in France. No 
patent was taken ; and in time some other person, follow- 
ing the hint, made the same thing of cast iron — such as is 
now in general use." — Watson s Annals. 



The Main Street 59 

The \Market Square, now occupied as an open park, 
was the centre of the activity of the town. There was 
originally an acre of ground reserved from the Frankfort 
Company's land, but it was not centrally located, and was 
subsequently sold, and at the same time, in 1703-4, the 
Bailiff's, etc., "For the common good and to purchase a 
place nearer the now midst in the center of said town," 
bought of James De La Plaine, a half-acre representing 
the present Market Square. Here for many years and 
until recent times, was the market house. Here also was 
the engine house of the Fellowship Fire Engine Company, 
one of the three early volunteer companies of the town. 
For a complete account of this fire company see "Penn- 
sylvania Magazine of History," Vol. XVIII, p. 429. The 
fire company removed to Armat Street in 1850 and the 
little old engine house was removed to the rear of 164 
School House Lane, where it still serves as a play house. 

Here also at one time were the prison, the stocks and 
the public scales. Delegations of Indians on their way 
to the city would stop in Germantown and were fed at 
the Market Square. A table often used for their dinner 
is preserved in the museum of the Site and Relic Society. 

Here, February 6th, 1764, several hundred Paxtang 
boys from the banks of the Conestoga and Susquehanna, 



60 Historic Germantown 

then the frontier, on their way to murder the peaceful 
Moravian Indians who had taken shelter in Philadelphia, 
were met by Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Chew, 
Thomas Willing, Thomas Galloway and others and per- 
suaded to return to their homes. Philadelphia had been 
thrown into a state of great excitement which must in 
a measure have been communicated to Germantown, for 
the Lutheran pastor in the city came out to Germantown 
to warn his people not to take part with the mob. 

The monument now occupying the square was erected 
in 1883 by Germantown to her soldiers in the Civil War. 
The principal part of the monument is built of Quincy 
granite. The top block, on which the soldier stands, is 
a piece of granite from Devil's Den, Gettysburg. The 
soldier is cut from Westerly granite. The four mortars 
were used for coast defense during the Civil War. The 
two bronze cannon on wheels were taken from the 
United States arsenal by Southern sympathizers during 
the war but were subsequently recovered by Union troops. 
One of them has cut upon it a Confederate flag and the 
name of a Confederate officer who was killed while serving 
the gun. The enclosure is made of musket barrels and 
bayonets used during the war. 

The broken cannon on the north side was part of the 




6i 



61 Historic Germantown 

armament of the British frigate Augusta, sunk by the 
American batteries while the vessel was attempting to 
reach Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. The 
crown and British monogram "G. R." are on it. The 
muzzle was blown away by an American cannon ball. 
Some thirty years ago in removing obstructions from the 
river channel the vessel was raised and this gun recovered. 

The shell on the south side was presented to the Con- 
federacy by some friends in England in connection with 
a battery of Whitworth guns. 

The cannon on the east of the monument has been in 
Germantown for many years and was used to fire salutes, 
etc. 

On the sides of the monument are found: 

Coat of Arms of the United States, with a quotation 
from one of Webster's speeches. 

Coat of Arms of Pennsylvania, with a quotation from 
William Penn's writings. 

Coat of Arms of the City of Philadelphia, with a 
quotation from the Gospel by Luke. 

A badge of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

The memorial tablets at the corners contain the names 
of soldiers and sailors serving for the suppression of the 
Rebellion, and residents at the time of their enlistment in 



The Main Street 63 

the 22d and 42d Wards, or who subsequent to this war 
moved into this territory and died there. 

Tablet 1 contains, in chronological and alphabetical 
order, the names of those who died or were killed during 
the years 1861-65. 

Tablet 2 contains, in alphabetical order, the names of 
those who died after 1865 and before May 30th, 1900. 

Tablet 3 the same, with the latter half of the alpha- 
bet, and 

Tablet 4 the names of those who died between May 
30th, 1900, and January 1st, 1901. 

No. 544.2 Main Street, the Morris house, opposite the 
square, was the residence of Washington during portions 
of 1793 and 1794. It was built in 1772-3 by David 
Deshler. "As honest as David Deshler" is remembered 
of him. After the Battle Sir William Howe, who before 
the event had made his headquarters at Stenton, occupied 
this house. The house was later bought by Colonel Isaac 
Franks and by him leased to Washington, who occupied 
it during a portion of the month of November, 1793, when 
the yellow fever drove many of the inhabitants of the city 
to safe places. An item in Colonel Frank's cash account 
is of interest: "Cash paid for cleaning my house and put- 



64 Historic Germantown 

ting it in the same condition the President received it in, 
$2.50." The bill to Washington for the use of the house 
was for $131.56, which included also Colonel Franks 
traveling expenses to and from Bethlehem, the ftire of 
furniture and bedding for his own family, the loss of one 
flat iron, valued at one shilling, of one large fork, four 
plates, three ducks, four fowls, one bushel of potatoes and 
one hundred of hay. 

In the following year, 1794, the Washington family 
again occupied the house during the heated period of the 
summer from July 30th to September 20th. Under date 
of September 24th, 1794, the following entry occurs in 
Washington's cash book: "Isaac Franks in Full for House 
rent &c. at Germantown pr rect, $201. 60." 

The house is about forty feet square, and it is said the 
front would have been wider had David Deshler not 
wanted to spare a plum tree which stood at one end. The 
yard at the side and rear has been kept in the simple 
elegance of the Colonial time and is altogether a charming 
spot. 

The property was sold in 1804 by Isaac Franks to 
Elliston and John Perot as a country residence. On the 
death of Elliston Perot in 1834 and the settlement of his 
estate, it was sold to his son-in-law Samuel B. Morris, 




as 
« 



65 



66 Historic Germantown 

who resided in it until his death in 1859, when it was 
inherited under his will by his son Elliston Perot Morris, 
who now resides there. 

"General Washington while residing here in 1793 
was a frequent walker abroad up the Main Street, and 
daily rode out on horseback or in his phaeton. So that 
everybody here was familiar with the personal appearance 
of that eminent man. When he and his family attended 
the English preaching, in the Dutch Church, at the market 
house, they always occupied the seat fronting the pulpit. 
It was also his own practice to attend the German preach- 
ing, thus showing he had some knowledge of that lan- 
guage. His home was closed on the Sabbath until the 
bell tolled, when it was opened just as he was coming to 
the church. . . . 

"Many remember his very civil and courteous de- 
meanor to all classes in the town, as he occasionally had 
intercourse with them. He had been seen several times 
at Henry Fraley's carpenter shop, and at Bringhurst's 
blacksmith shop, talking freely and cordially with both. 
They had both been in some of his campaigns. His lady 
endeared herself to many by her uniform gentleness and 
kindness. Neither of them showed pride or austerity. I 
could illustrate the assertion by several remembered inci- 
dents in proof." — Watson s Annals. 



The Main Street 67 

No. 5448 Main Street was built about 1760 by John 
Bringhurst, who had been mentioned (p. 46). It later 
passed into possession of the Ashmead family. 

No. 5450 Main Street, built about 1790, was for a 
time the residence of Thomas Armat. It is said of him 
that during the War of 1812, when calling upon tenants 
for rent, if they were unable to pay, he would not only 
forego his claim but aid them besides. He presented the 
town with hay scales in the square opposite, the revenue of 
which was turned over to certain beneficial societies. He 
kept a room in the house known as the "Minister , s" room. 
He gave the land and was instrumental in founding St. 
Luke's Episcopal Church. 

Nos. 5452 and 5454, Ashmead houses, have been 
demolished (1904) to make room for an addition to the 
Saving Fund's building. When they were built is not 
definitely known, but it is thought No. 5452 was erected 
about 1711, by John Ashmead, who came to Germantown 
from Cheltenham Township in that year, purchasing a 
tract of 500 acres, of which a portion still remains in the 
family. The front of the house was rebuilt in 1790. 

In March, 1742, Count Zinzendorf occupied No. 
5454, and on the 14th of May he opened a school for 



68 Historic Germantown 

young women with twenty-five girls and teachers. In 
June of the same year it was transferred to Bethlehem, 
where it still is in existence as the Moravian Seminary. 

Like many of the properties along the Main Street, 
the land for these extended back a considerable distance 
from the Main Street. 

"A large body of Hessians were hutted in Ashmead's 
field out the school lane, near the woods ; their huts were 
constructed of the rails from fences, set up at an angle 
of 45°, resting on a crossbeam centre; over these were 
laid straw, and above the straw grass sod — they were close 
and warm. Those for the officers had wicker doors, with 
a glass light, and interwoven with plaited straw ; they had 
also chimneys made of grass sod. They no doubt had 
prepared so to pass the winter, but the battle broke up 
their plans. One of the Hessians afterwards became 
Washington's coachman." — Watson s Annals. 

There is a story in the Ashmead family that during 
the occupation of the town by the British a young British 
officer was attracted by little "Polly" Ashmead and fre- 
quently visited the house. One day he stood before an 
open fire warming his back when the tail of his coat 
caught fire. Polly saw it but as he was a British officer 
she said nothing. When he discovered his coat was burn- 
ing, and at the same time saw that Polly was laughing, 



The Main Street 69 

he shook his finger at her, upbraided her for not telling 
him and called her a "little rebel. " 

From this family are descended, through Sophia Ash- 
mead, who married, in 1843, Ellis Bartlett, an American 
merchant, the late Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, a member 
of the English Parliament, and his brother, William Leh- 
man Ashmead Bartlett, the husband of the Baroness 
Burdett-Coutts. They were both born in America but 
were educated in England and became British subjects. 

The Germantown Saving Fund occupies the site of 
Jacob Tellner's home and it is said William Penn one 
time preached in it. Dr. George Bensell pulled this 
house down to erect a handsome residence about 1795. 
This stood until 1880, when it was torn down to make 
way for the present building. The old doorway which 
stood in the Bensell house was removed through the efforts 
of Dr. William R. Dunton and placed in the house south- 
east corner of Main Street and Walnut Lane. There is 
a tradition that Jacob Tellner's house was the first stone 
house built in Germantown, and that William Penn was 
present at the raising of the roof. 

The Woman s Christian Association Building, front- 
ing on the square, corner of Mill Street, was at one time 



70 Historic Germantown 

occupied by one of the banks from Philadelphia, when the 
latter was driven out of Philadelphia by the yellow fever 
epidemic. Massive vaults had been constructed in the 
cellar to which the money was conveyed. This house 
was used for five years by the Episcopalians as a place of 
worship until the erection of St. Luke's Church. 

Market Square Presbyterian Church is the third 
church building erected on this site. Originally built 
by the German Reformed Church in 1733, it was enlarged 
in 1762 and a steeple added. This building made way for 
a larger structure in 1839, which in turn was replaced by 
the present structure. Its first bell, cast in 1725, is still 
preserved in the church. Its weather vane, made of metal, 
represented a crowing cock. When the Paxtang were 
encamped in the square they amused themselves firing at 
the weathercock on the church. It still bears the marks 
of these bullets. It was removed when the present build- 
ing was erected and is carefully preserved by Charles J. 
Wister. Here Count Zinzendorf preached his first ser- 
mon on landing in America December 31st, 1741, and on 
June 17th, 1742, his last on leaving. At the time of the 
Battle a battalion of Virginians was captured and con- 
fined in the church building by the British until they were 



The Main Street 71 

marched into the city. Here their tall figures, their 
wounds and powder-stained faces attracted much atten- 
tion from the townspeople. 

"The Ninth Regiment was in the hottest of the fight, 
and nearly one-half the whole regiment was killed and 
wounded. It drove every portion of the British army 
with which it came in contact before it, and I was told 
by one of the officers that in the excitement of the moment, 
supposing every part of the American army had been as 
successful as themselves, they had no doubt of reaching 
Philadelphia, the headquarters of General Howe. When 
the retreat of the American army was ordered, the Ninth 
Regiment was so far in advance of the rest of the army, 
that before they could join the main body they were sur- 
rounded and made prisoners. When surrounded they 
had made more prisoners than the whole number of the 
regiment. On the morning after the Battle of German- 
town the prisoners were marched to Philadelphia." — 
Joyne's Account, Ninth Virginia Continental Line. 

President Washington attended here when living in 
the Morris house opposite. See tablet placed by the Site 
and Relic Society. 

The Mutual Fire Insurance Company, northeast cor- 
ner School House Lane and Main Street, occupies the 
site of the old De La Plaine house. At the time of the 
Battle it was occupied by 'Squire Joseph Ferree, and a 



72 Historic Germantown 

number of weeping women and children found refuge in 
the cellar while the fight was in progress. 

The Pennsylvania Council of Safety in 1776 ordered 
that the supply of salt and saltpetre be removed to Ger- 
mantown, and presumably stored in 'Squire Ferree's cel- 
lar, as he was in charge of it. On the 8th of July of that 
year it was "Resolved that Dr. Charles Bensell, Joseph 
Ferree and Leonard Stoneburner be appointed to collect 
all the leaden window weights, clock weights and other 
lead in Germantown and its neighborhood, for which the 
liberal price of six pence per pound will be allowed." 

When Whitefield visited Germantown he preached 
from a little balcony to a great crowd gathered in the 
Market Square below. 

"On Friday last the Rev. Mr. Whitefield arrived 
here with his Friends from New York, where he preached 
eight times; . . . He has preach'd here twice every 
Day, since his arrival, in the Church to great Crowds, 
except Tuesday, when he Preach'd at German Town 
from a balcony to about 5000 People." — American 
Weekly Mercury, Nov. 2 2d to Nov. 29th, 1739. 

Visitors should see the Shag Rag, the old hand engine 
belonging to the Middle Ward Fire Company, which is 
now carefully preserved by the Insurance Company in 
their office. It was imported from England in 1764. 



The Main Street 73 

Water was carried to it in leather buckets, of which each 
member kept two hanging in his hallway ready for instant 
service. Three or four men standing on each side of the 
engine and working the handles up and down indus- 
triously could throw a stream of half an inch in diameter 
a distance of fifty feet or more. 

The Germantown Bank, northwest corner Main 
Street and School House Lane, was chartered in 1813, 
and began business in 1814. It was first located in a 
house next to the corner, 5504 Main Street, but in 1825 
it removed to 5277 Main Street. In 1868 it returned to 
its present location and later bought and absorbed 5504, 
the building in which it first started. 

The corner house was known as BenselPs house, 
having been erected early in the eighteenth century by 
Carl Benzelius. The house was occupied for several 
years, until about 1806, by the Germantown Library. 

"The Members of the Library Company of German- 
town are desired to meet on Monday, the 6th day of May, 
at the House of Daniel Mackenet, to choose three Di- 
rectors and a Treasurer, and to make their tenth annual 
payment." — Pennsylvania Gazette, April 25th, 1754. 

It was later altered into a store. 



74 Historic Germantown 

In 1776 Lieutenant George Ball, of the British navy, 
a prisoner of war, was sent to Germantown by the Coun- 
cil of Safety. A letter was sent at the same time to Dr. 
Charles Bensell, desiring him to "provide proper lodging 
for the Lieutenant." 

For a brief period, during the yellow fever epidemic 
in Philadelphia, 1798, Elizabeth Drinker and her son 
boarded with the widow Bensell. Elizabeth Drinker 
writes in her well-known Journal, August 22d, 1798: 

"Half of her house is taken by other persons, but we 
are entirely separated, ye doors between locked up. Aug. 
23d. Two Frenchmen lodge in the room adjoining us, 
with a door which opens into our room, which is locked, 
and ye old lady has ye key. They were jabbering last 
night, but I could not understand them. They are nearer 
than I like; I stopped the keyhole this morning with 
paper." 

Watson is authority for the statement that Generals 
Washington, Knox and Greene slept in 5504, which was 
next to the corner. This building was occupied by the 
Bank of the United States during a portion of 1798. 
Elizabeth Drinker records, September 25th: 

"Ye United States Bank removed ye contents thereof, 
from Philada. ye 22d inst. to Germantown — to the house 
lately occupied by Rochardet as a Coffee house or Tavern 



The Main Street 75 

next door to S. Rhoads, escorted by a body of Light-horse. 
It occasioned a great stir in that neighborhood, where 
there was great abundance of it before. ,, 

The Germantown Academy is one square west of the 
Main Street, on the southwest corner School House Lane 
and Greene Street. It was founded January 1st, 1760. 
With the exception of a period during the Revolution, 
school has been held here continuously since. It was 
originally called the Germantown Union School house. 
The little buildings were constructed for the masters. 
The school started with 131 pupils — 61 in the English 
and 70 in the German department. 

The following is an extract from an advertisement 
of the school in the Pennsylvania Gazette, March 5th, 
1761: 

"The School House consists of 80 Feet in Front, and 
40 Feet in Depth, two Stories in Height, with six com- 
modious Rooms for the Use of the several Schools. To 
which are added as Wings, two convenient Dwelling- 
houses, with a lot of Ground to each, for the Residence 
of the Masters and their Boarders. 

"The Advantages of the School, with respect to Situ- 
ation, must, if duly considered, contribute not a little to 
its Promotion and Encouragement. The House is built 
on a fine airy Hill, a little removed from the Public or 



y6 Historic Germantown 

Main Street. The Air is known from long Experience, 
to be pure and healthy; often recommended, by the best 
Physicians, to Invalids; and indeed the Place, without 
Exaggeration, may be justly termed the Montpelier of 
Pennsylvania. The Opportunities and Examples of Vice 
and Immorality, which ever prevail in large Cities, here 
will seldom present themselves, to decoy the youthful 
Mind from its natural Inclination of Virtue. Its Re- 
tirement, for want of Objects to divert the Attention, 
will fix the Mind to Application and Study. Its small 
Distance from the City of Philadelphia will enable the 
Citizen, in some Measure, to superintend both the Health 
and Education of his Child." 

After the Battle the building was used as a hospital 
for the wounded, and several British soldiers are buried in 
the yard at the rear. The school was chartered by the 
State in 1784 as the Public School of Germantown. 

The bell in the belfry has a romantic history. A bell 
weighing 284 pounds was brought to Philadelphia in 1774 
in the tea ship Polly, which was not allowed to land by 
the indignant citizens of Philadelphia. The cargo, in- 
cluding the bell, was carried back to England, where it 
remained until the war was over, and in 1784 it was 
again brought over and put in place. In 1834 this bell 
was recast and a small proportion of new metal added to 
the old, so that it now weighs 310 pounds. A part of 




77 



78 Historic Germantown 

the weather vane, which has never been disturbed, is a 
crown, representing the royal insignia of England. In 
the Academy's possession are the telescope used by Wash- 
ington at the time of the Battle and other interesting 
relics. The house on School House Lane opposite the 
Academy was bought in 1810. The gymnasium along 
Greene Street is a modern building. The public is ad- 
mitted to the school. 

Among the pupils in the school have been George 
Washington Parke Custis, Fernando Bolivar, the adopted 
son of the great "Liberator" of South America, and a 
great number of other distinguished men. 

In 1793, when, on account of the yellow fever in 
Philadelphia, it seemed as if Congress would meet in 
Germantown, the use of the Academy was tendered, 
November 6th, to Washington, as a meeting place, but 
owing to the abatement of the disease Congress assembled 
in Philadelphia December 2d. 

In 1798, when yellow fever again drove the citizens 
of Philadelphia to the suburbs and country, the Academy 
building was occupied by the Banks of North America 
and of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Drinker, who was then 
in Germantown, writes in her Journal: 

"September 4 (1798). The Bank of Pennsylvania 



The Main Street 79 

was this afternoon removed from Philadelphia, where it 
has lately been robbed of a considerable amount, to the 
school house in this town, escorted by McPherson's Blues. 
"September 5. Germantown is like a beehive — the 
people swarm. About two o'clock, four wagons loaded 
with the cash, &c, from the Bank of North America 
arrived here guarded by the Light-horse men. They are 
also deposited in the same school house where the con- 
tents of ye other was yesterday lodged. This draws great 
numbers to this place. Fifteen or twenty people are 
guarding ye Banks." 

No. 130 West School House Lane was built about 
1766 by David J. Dove, who had been a teacher at the 
Academy. Not getting along with the trustees he aimed 
to set up a rival school on the property immediately aH- 
joining. This plan was not successful and Dove soon 
went back to the city. In 1793 the house was occupied 
by the Rev. Frederick Herman, the German teacher at 
the Academy. At that time Washington occupied rooms 
in the house from November 1st to 10th, when, on account 
of the yellow fever, the offices of the National Govern- 
ment were located in Germantown. The Reverend Her- 
man supplied the breakfasts and suppers, but the dinners 
were sent in from the King of Prussia Tavern. The 



80 Historic Germantown 

house has been altered somewhat. Important cabinet 
meetings were held at this house by Washington and the 
members of his cabinet. In the garden at the rear is an 
immense horse chestnut tree said to have been planted by 
Washington. 

Nos. 5516-5518-5520 Main Street cover the site of 
what, in Revolutionary times, was the King of Prussia 
Tavern. Its sign, which is still preserved, is said to have 
shown King Frederick on horseback and to have been 
painted by Gilbert Stuart while he was a temporary resi- 
dent of Germantown. It was later painted over. In the 
rear there formerly stood a large barn which was used as 
a slaughter house by the British at the time of the Battle. 
The first stage coach with an awning was run from the 
King of Prussia to the George Inn, Second and Arch 
Streets, three times a week. About 1834 its use as a 
tavern ceased. The doorway on the second floor, at the 
south end, which has been closed up, shows where at one 
time it had been connected with the next house below. 
Thomas Jefferson lived at this tavern for a considerable 
time during the month of November, 1793, and on one 
occasion Alexander Hamilton and General Henry Knox 
dined with him here. 



c^,^ 




81 



82 Historic Germantown 

"Andrew Weckeser begs leave to inform the publick, 
That he has opened a House of entertainment in German- 
town, at the Sign of the King-of-Prussia, near John Jones's, 
Esq: where all Gentlemen, Ladies, Travellers, &c, may 
depend on the best usage. Their favors will be gratefully 
acknowledged by their humble Servant. 

Andrew Weckeser/' 
— Pennsylvania Gazette, December 15th, 1757. 

A portion of the original King of Prussia Tavern still 
stands, but a new front has been put in place. 

The First Presbyterian Church, Chelten Avenue west 
of Main Street, stands where at one time was a famous 
orchard, and the steeple is directly over a spring. In 
digging the foundation it was necessary to drive piles on 
which the foundations were constructed. The orchard 
referred to was that of a German named Kurtz, whose 
house stood on the west of the Main Street where Chelten 
Avenue has been opened through. Kurtz was a great 
horticulturist and botanist and his gardens contained many 
rare specimens. He was a friend of Matthias Kin, an 
eccentric man who was employed by German horticul- 
turists to collect seeds and plants for them. He spent 
most of the time exploring the wilds of North America, 
and it was to him that Kurtz was indebted for many of 
his specimens. 




«3 



84 Historic Germantown 

The First Presbyterian Church was formerly located 
where is now the Young Men's Christian Association 
Building, and the first meetings of the body were, before 
the erection of a church building, held in the Blair house, 
southeast corner of Main Street and Walnut Lane. 

Vernon Park, on the west side of Main Street just 
above Chelten Avenue, now includes the old Wister man- 
sion and some adjoining properties. Most of this land 
formerly belonged to Melchoir Meng, whose house stood 
along the Main Street immediately adjoining what is now 
No. 5708 Main Street. Melchoir Meng shared with his 
neighbor Kurtz a great love for trees and plants, and 
John Wister, who bought the property and lived here for 
many years, preserved and added to the collection. Some 
of these rare specimens are still standing, particularly 
noticeable being several great holly trees. Melchoir Meng 
was one of the founders of the Germantown Academy, 
and at the Battle his house was occupied by the wounded 
soldiers. His three daughters were alone in the house at 
the time, and the British officers assured them if they 
would go up stairs and stay there no harm would befall 
them. The house had been selected as a hospital on 
account of the numerous barrels of vinegar stored in the 



The Main Street 85 

cellar, this being used to stanch the flow of blood. They 
saw the stricken Colonel Bird brought in and laid upon 
the porch, and soon the house was filled with wounded 
men. 

Melchoir Meng's house was taken down when the 
city bought the property a few years ago. 

Vernon Mansion was erected in 1803 by James Mat- 
thews, who, a few years later, sold it to John Wister, 
who lived here until his death. His son, John Wister, 
was a member of Congress and occupied Vernon until his 
death in 1883. The property now belongs to the city, 
and the mansion is occupied by the Site and Relic Society 
of Germantown as a museum. It is open daily from 9 
A. M. to 5 P. M., the public being welcomed, without 
charge. 

No. 5845 Main Street was standing at the time of the 
Battle. There is a tradition that at one time a mounted 
British soldier rode up to the door and demanded some- 
thing. On being refused, he tried to urge his horse into 
the doorway, which was then guarded by a Dutch or 
double door. 

The tollgate for the turnpike stood in the street just 
below this house and opposite Rittenhouse Street. 



86 Historic Germantown 

The Young Mens Christian Association stands where 
for many years was the First Presbyterian Church. It 
was organized in 1809 as the "English Church" of 
Germantown. In 1811 the site was chosen, and in July, 
1812, the building was dedicated. The church remained 
here until 1870, when it was removed to Chelten Avenue, 
the building after that date being occupied by the Young 
Men's Christian Association. 

The First Methodist Church of Germantown was, 
until within a few years, located on East Haines Street, 
a square or more east of the Main Street. The church 
was organized in 1796. There had been meetings of this 
body for some time previous to this date held, among 
other places, in the Academy Building. 

The first meeting house was on the south side of East 
Haines Street (formerly Pickius Lane, later Methodist 
Lane, or Meeting House Lane) and was erected in 1804. 
In 1812 a large lot further out Haines Street was bought. 
On this lot a meeting house was built in 1823. The 
church building was later sold to the city and is now 
used as a public school. 

On the south side of Haines Street, the first house east 
of Chew Street (about three-fourths of a mile east of 



The Main Street 87 

Main Street), still stands a farm house that belonged to 
Christopher Ludwig. In 1777 he was appointed Baker 
General to the American army. He was an ardent 
patriot, possessed considerable influence, and is said to 
have been the original of Harvey Birch in Cooper's novel 
"The Spy." He was respected by Washington, and the 
latter, in 1785, gave him a certificate of good conduct, 
of which Christopher Ludwig was very proud and which 
he had framed and hung in his parlor. He was born in 
Germany in 1720. He had been a soldier in the Austrian 
and Prussian armies. He was a baker by trade and 
amassed a fortune in his business, an important part of 
which was making gingerbread. At his death he left 
much to charities. His grave is in St. Michael's Lutheran 
yard and consists of a granite topstone on granite pillars, 
with a long inscription giving an account of the principal 
events of his life. He died in 1801. 

For further details see "Life of Christopher Ludwig," 
by Dr. Benjamin Rush. 

The Town Hall, northwest corner of Main and 
Haines Streets, during the war of the Rebellion was used 
as a hospital. Numerous frame wards were also con- 
structed at the side and rear, so that eventually the hos- 



88 Historic Germantown 

pital accommodated 630 beds. The hospital was organized 
July, 1862. It was called the Cuyler Hospital, in honor 
of Dr. John M. Cuyler, Medical Director, U. S. A. 

The hospital was used until the end of the war. 

The clock in the Town Hall was made by Isaiah 
Lukens, of Montgomery County, and was formerly in the 
State House, Philadelphia. The Bell was the second one 
in the history of the State House, and is said to contain 
considerable silver to give it a "silvery" tone. The steeple 
was erected for it and the clock started in Germantown, 
October 4th, 1877. 

No. 5QOQ Main Street. Henry Van Dyke, the dis- 
tinguished author and diplomat, was born in this house, 
November 10, 1852. 

The house diagonally facing the Main Street in the 
rear of No. 5938 Main Street is the Engle House, built 
by Benjamin Engle in 1758 and remains in the possession 
of this family to this day. The Engles were tanners in 
early times, and the tannery stood in the rear until modern 
times. The tradition is that Elizabeth Engle, standing in 
the doorway after the Battle, saw the wounded General 
Agnew carried by on a door. After the Battle the British 
soldiers were seen gathering up the American muskets and 



The Main Street 89 

breaking them one by one over a cubical quartz stone 
which stood for many years at the gateway alongside the 
house to keep the wagon wheels from hitting the post. A 
good Engle horse was taken from the stable and a poor old 
English hack substituted. 

The house at the southeast corner of Main Street and 
High Street is known as the Morris-Lit tell house. Mrs. 
Ann Willing Morris lived here from 1812 until her death, 
in 1832. Of her two daughters who occupied the house, 
one was Margaret H. Morris, the first woman elected a 
member of the Academy of Natural Sciences. She was a 
noted naturalist, and it is said that to her belongs the 
credit of discovering the habits of the seventeen year 
locusts, enabling her to predict their reappearance. It was 
on these grounds that the investigations were made. 

These grounds were the home at one time of Dr. 
Christopher Witt, further mention of whom will be found 
in the succeeding paragraphs. He is thought to have lived 
in a little house at the rear of the present building. This 
was the site of the second botanical garden in America. 

No. 25 High Street, just in the rear of the Methodist 
Church, was built about 1796 by Daniel Pastorius, a great 
grandson of Francis Daniel Pastorius. It then stood on 



90 Historic Germantown 

the Main Street, next to the Morris-Littell house, with 
only a carriage drive separating them. When High Street 
was opened it was moved some fifty feet northward, and 
a few years ago it was moved once more to its present 
location. 

Some thirty years ago Dr. Dunton tore down the old 
Pastorius house, which formerly stood between his house 
and No. 6019 Main Street, and used the stone in building 
the rear wing of this house. 

Dr. Dunton has carved over his doorway the Latin 
motto, Procul este profani, which Whittier says was 
carved over Pastorius' door. 

"Then through the vine-draped door whose legend read, 
'Procul este profani!' Anna led 
To where their child upon his little bed 

"Looked up and smiled. 'Dear heart/ she said, 'if we 
Must bearers of a heavy burden be, 
Our boy, God willing, yet the day shall see 

" 'When from the gallery to the farthest seat 
Slave and slave-owner shall no longer meet, 
But all sit equal at the Master's feet.' " 

— From Whittier s Pennsylvania Pilgrim. 

In the rear, almost adjoining the church, is an old 
building, formerly a Pastorius farm house. The doorway, 



The Main Street 91 

which is a particularly handsome one, was formerly in one 
of the Bensell houses on the Main Street above School 
Lane, torn down to make way for the Germantown Na- 
tional Bank. 

St. Michael's Episcopal Church, on the south side of 
High Street, two squares east of the Main Street, occupies 
the site of the old Warner burying ground. Its walls may 
be traced by the stone foundation still showing through 
the sod. In addition to the graves of the two Doctor 
Warners, for whom substantial headstones are still stand- 
ing, there are numerous other mounds without stones. 
Here is also buried, in a now unmarked grave, Dr. Chris- 
topher Witt (or Dewitt, as it is sometimes spelled), who 
died in 1765, aged ninety years. 

"Last week died at Germantown Dr. Christopher 
Dewitt; a gentleman long and well known throughout 
this and the neighboring Provinces, for his great Services 
and Abilities in the Profession of a Physician." — Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette, February 7th, 1765. 

It is said that some of the dead from the Battle, Eng- 
lish as well as Americans, are buried here, and for many 
years before the church was built the graveyard and the 
surrounding ground was called "Spook Hill." Recently 



92 Historic Germantown 

the church has been enlarged, covering a portion of the 
old burying ground and a tablet has been placed in the 
floor commemorating the fact. The Site and Relic So- 
ciety has placed a tablet on the building. 

The southwest corner of High and Martin Streets was 
for many years the home of John Foster Kirk, author of 
"Charles the Bold, ,, and of Allen Olney Kirk, the writer 
of many novels. 

No. 6oig Main Street was formerly the Green Tree 
Tavern. It was built in 1748. The letters "D. S. P." in 
the date stone stand for Daniel and Sarah Pastorius. The 
house was a public one kept by Daniel Pastorius until 
his death in 1754. At that time it was known as the 
Sadler's Arms and later, after Sarah Pastorius had be- 
come the widow of her second husband, Daniel Mackenet, 
it achieved additional fame as the widow Mackenet's 
Tavern. 

There is a well-founded tradition that during the 
Battle the attacking Americans, on the east side of the 
Main Street, under General Wayne, penetrated this far 
towards the centre of the town. It was a famous resort 
for driving and sleighing parties from the city. Later it 
was called the "Hornets' Nest," from an immense hornets' 




93 



94 Historic Germantown 

nest that was kept here as a curiosity. The Tavern was 
the resting place of many curiosities of the town and 
vicinity. In 1825, when Lafayette was invited to visit 
Germantown, the intention was to entertain him at dinner 
at this inn. The evening before the day he was expected 
it was concluded that the Tavern would not accommodate 
the party, so a deputation visited the Chew House, where 
arrangements were made for the dinner, over which Miss 
Ann Chew, then a young lady of sixteen, presided. 

Nos. 6021 and 6023 Main Street are Warner houses. 
The Warners were early identified with the Pietist her- 
mits of the Wissahickon, and particularly with Dr. Chris- 
topher Witt, the survivor of this remarkable body. Wat- 
son is authority for the statement that Dr. Witt's interest 
in the Warners was first aroused by their giving him a 
hat to replace his, which had blown away. Be this as it 
may, the relations were very close between the old doctor 
and the family, and when the former died he left his big 
house to Christian Warner. 

Dr. Witt was born in England in 1675 and came to 
Pennsylvania in 1704. He was one of the most remark- 
able men who lived in Germantown. He was a physician, 
botanist, scholar, musician, astronomer and lover of nature, 



The Main Street 95 

originally one of the hermits of the Wissahickon, a friend 
of John Bartram, the botanist, and of other noted men. 

An oil portrait of Johannes Kelpius, the Hermit of 
the Wissahickon, painted by Dr. Christopher Witt, is 
believed to be the first oil portrait painted in America, 
1705. It is in the possession of the Pennsylvania His- 
torical Society. 

"Dr. Witt is a skilled botanist, and upon his removal 
to Germantown, after the death of Kelpius, he started a 
large garden for his own study and amusement, and to 
him propably is due the honor of starting the first botan- 
ical garden in America. This was about twenty years 
prior to Bartram's purchase on the Schuylkill for a like 
purpose." — The German Pietists of Pennsylvania, p. 406. 

It was no doubt through Dr. Witt's influence that two 
of the Warners, father and son, became physicians. The 
latter died during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. 
Their graves are referred to in a preceding paragraph. 

A portion of "Wyck" southwest corner of Walnut 
Lane and Main Street is thought to be the oldest house 
still standing in Germantown. The present building was 
originally two houses with a driveway between them. Its 
halls were used as a hospital and operating room after the 
Battle and blood stains still remain upon the floors. 
Reuben Haines, who inherited the property, was a promi- 



96 Historic Germantown 

nent man of his day. He greatly aided in the building of 
the turnpike from Chestnut Hill to the city, and was 
active in other ways. When the Marquis of Lafayette 
visited Germantown, July 20th, 1825, he was entertained 
at "Wyck." Lafayette and his suite had previously visited 
the Chew House and the Mount Airy College. On their 
return they stopped at "Wyck," where a reception was 
tendered him. He was addressed by Charles Pierce, Esq., 
and John F. Watson, the annalist, who presented him 
with a box of great curiosity and value. During the 
reception Lafayette was seated in a chair that had be- 
longed to Benjamin Franklin and which is still in posses- 
sion of the family. The guests entered the front door and 
filed out at the back. Charles J. Wister, father of our 
honored townsman Charles J, Wister, introduced Lafay- 
ette to the ladies of the town. From "Wyck" Lafayette 
went to the Academy and from there returned to the city. 
Among the trees on the lawn of "Wyck" is a Spanish 
chestnut, a seedling from a tree General Washington 
planted for Judge Peters at Belmont. 

In the rear of "Wyck" was the large old-fashioned 
barn erected in 1796, which, in 1890, was altered into a 
beautiful and comfortable dwelling standing on Walnut 
Lane. 




97 



98 Historic Germantown 

No. 6043 Main Street, southeast corner Main Street 
and Walnut Lane, is a house of very considerable historic 
interest. The property was bought in 1775 by Dr. Wil- 
liam Shippen as a summer home. He was a famous man 
in his day and at one time was "Director General of all 
the Military Hospitals in the United States." He died 
in this house, July 11th, 1808, and was buried from here. 
Tradition has it that this was the first three-story house 
built in Germantown. It was the centre of a fierce 
skirmish during the Battle, and its plaster and woodwork 
for many years bore the marks of bullets, and the print 
in blood of a man's foot remained on one of the floors for 
some time. The home was pillaged during the stirring 
times of British occupation and General Cornwallis is said 
to have told Mrs. Shippen that he had saved a sofa for 
her by sleeping on it. The house was also occupied by Dr. 
Shippers son-in-law, the Reverend Samuel Blair, who 
was instrumental in establishing in Germantown the First 
Presbyterian Church. Services were at one time held in 
this house. Dr. Blair was elected President of Princeton 
College, but voluntarily made way for the famous Dr. 
Witherspoon. He was also a chaplain in the American 
army. 

Later the Pennsylvania Manual Labor School was 




99 



ioo Historic Germantown 

located here under the charge of Dr. George Junkin, after- 
ward President of Washington and Lee University. One 
of his daughters, Eleanor, married the famous Confederate 
general, "Stonewall" Jackson, and another, Margaret 
Junkin Preston, was the distinguished poetess of the South. 
In 1832 Dr. Junkin removed to Easton to assume the 
duties of President of Lafayette College. The property 
in 1851 was owned by Charlotte Cushman, the famous 
actress. It was she who opened the East Walnut Lane, 
which she called Chestnut Street. The beautiful door- 
way was formerly that of a house which belonged to Dr. 
Bensell, at the corner of Main Street and School House 
Lane, now occupied by the Saving Fund. 

The house on the northeast corner of Main and East 
Walnut Lane was built in 1806 by the Rev. Samuel Blair, 
for his son, Samuel Blair, Jr. 

At the northeast corner of Main and Herman Streets 
stood Christopher Dock's school. He was the author of 
the first American book on pedagogy. 

The Mennonite Meeting House is on the Main Street 
above Herman Street. As has been stated elsewhere, the 
little band of first settlers was composed of Friends and 




101 



102 Historic Germantown 

Mennonites. Here in 1708 the latter built a little log 
meeting house, the first to be erected in America, suc- 
ceeded in 1770 by the present building. From behind a 
wall at this point a party of citizens fired upon the British 
troops as they marched up the Main Street during the 
Battle and mortally wounded Brigadier General Agnew, 
riding at the head. 

William Rittenhouse, famous as being the first paper 
maker in the colonies, was the first pastor of the congre- 
gation. Pews of the original church continue in use and 
here is preserved the original table on which the first pro- 
test against slavery was signed. It is used as a communion 
table. 

No. 6205 Main Street was built in 1738 by Dirck 
Keyser, who came from Amsterdam with his son, Peter 
Dirck Keyser, in 1688. There is a tradition that this was 
the first two-story house erected in Germantown. Notice 
the initials "D. K. 1738," cut in the stones on the front 
of the house alongside of one of the windows. 

Dirck Keyser was connected with the Mennonite 
Church. In Amsterdam he had been a silk merchant, and 
after he arrived here he wore a silk coat, which caused his 
neighbors some disquiet. Some of the brethren calling to 




io3 



104 Historic Germantown 

talk over his worldliness, found him in his garden. As 
he advanced to meet them he wiped his hands on his coat. 
They concluded, on seeing this, that he did not value it 
unduly and so said nothing of the object of their visit. 

No. 6239 Main Street, the Washington Tavern, is an 
old building, and was known by this name as early as 
1793. It is the type of a large number of taverns which 
in the early days lined the Main Street of Germantown. 
The Buck, Sadler's Arms, Green Tree, Indian King, 
Indian Queen, Crown and Cushion, Roebuck, Button- 
wood, Fountain, Black Horse, White Horse, Lamb, White 
Lamb, Treaty Elm, and King of Prussia are some of the 
names of taverns that have now passed away. In the early 
times, the capacious yard of the Washington Tavern could 
not accommodate all the teams putting up there for the 
night, and there would be an overflow row of wagons 
along the Main Street. 

Cornelius Plockhoy, founder of the first community 
in America, lived in East Washington Lane near Bayn- 
ton Street. It is believed he was buried in the Mennonite 
ground. 

No. 6306 Main Street, the Johnson house, stood in 
the thickest of the fight at the time of the Battle. John 




io 5 



io6 Historic Germantown 

Johnson, the occupant at this time, alarmed by the noise, 
went to his door to look out. A British officer riding by- 
advised the family to seek a place of safety. It was early 
in the morning and the maids had just brought in the 
morning's milk from the barn. They hastily left it and 
quickly sought refuge in the cellar. After the Battle the 
British soldiers swarmed through the house, drank the 
milk and cleared the kitchen of everything eatable. 

A rifle ball passed through the house and the hole 
through the parlor door is still visible. A cannon ball 
knocked a chip out of the north corner of the house 
about two feet above the fence. The house is still in 
possession of the Johnson family. 

The house was one of the largest and most substantial 
in Germantown when it was built, and on this account its 
building gave some concern to members of the Society of 
Friends, of which body the Johnsons were members. 

No. 6316 Main Street, now occupied by Mr. Ellwood 
Johnson, was formerly a Keyser property and back of it 
is still standing a cedar fence that was riddled with bullets 
at the Battle. The engagement back of this and the ad- 
joining houses was particularly severe. The old fence, 
its bullet holes worn much larger by the winds and storms 



The Main Street 107 

of a century and more, is now protected by another fence. 
During the engagement a bullet passed clear through the 
barn, striking an officer, who was carried to the rear of 
the tannery, where he died. 

Separating this property from the Johnsons', adjoining, 
is a stone wall which was used as a breastwork, and this 
was one of the many obstacles that hampered the advance 
of the American army. 

The Keysers were tanners and a portion of the tannery 
buildings still remains. There is also a millstone used for 
grinding bark which weighs nearly a ton, and which 
Nathan Keyser is said to have been able to lift at one time. 
Honey Run, a considerable little stream, used to flow 
across the garden in the rear. 

No. 6307 Main Street was built in 1760 by Jacob 
Knorr. It stood in the thick of the fight at the Battle. 

The fourth building above Washington Lane, on the 
east side adjoining the burying ground, is the Concord 
School House j built in 1775 for the upper residents of 
German town, who found the Academy on School Lane 
too far away. It was used as a school for many years 
and is at present occupied by the Charter Oak Library. 
Query : Why was it called Concord ? Was it because the 



108 Historic Germantown 

first German immigrants had come over in the ship Con- 
cord, or was it because its foundations were laid at the 
time when the shot that was heard around the world was 
being fired at Concord, Mass. ? 

It was in this building that the meeting was held which 
led to the organization of the Junior Order of American 
Mechanics. In 1903 the building was leased by the Site 
and Relic Society and the first floor was fitted up as a 
museum. This was later moved to Vernon Park. 

The Upper Burying Ground of Germantown, some- 
times called Ax's burying ground, from John Frederick 
Ax, who had charge of it from 1724 to 1756, is on the 
east side of Main Street, above the Concord School. Here 
are buried many of the early settlers of Germantown and 
their descendants. The oldest known grave is that of 
Cornelius Tyson, who died in 1716. Judge Pennypacker 
takes this to be the oldest existing tombstone to the 
memory of a Dutchman or German in Pennsylvania. Just 
inside the gateway are the graves of the Lippard family, 
ancestors of George Lippard, a writer of some consider- 
able activity. Lippard lived in West Washington Lane, 
near Main Street. In the east corner of the yard are the 
graves of several American soldiers killed at the Battle, 




Grave Stone in Upper Burying Ground 



IO9 



no Historic Germantown 

including Lieutenant Colonel Henry Irwin, of a North 
Carolina regiment; Captain Turner, of North Carolina, 
and Adjutant Lucas. Over their neglected and almost 
unknown graves the annalist Watson erected a plain 
marble stone. 

The little stone built into the wall at the right of the 
gateway gives the various dates when the wall was built 
and repaired. 

For a detailed account, including a list of burials, see 
an article by Peter D. Keyser, in the "Pennsylvania Maga- 
zine of History," Vol. VIII, No. 4, and Vol. IX, No. 1. 

The vacant lot adjoining the Upper Burial Ground is 
all that remains of Pomona, once a handsome estate ex- 
tending along the Main Street to Duval Street and as 
far back as Morton Street. After the Revolution Pomona 
was the home of Colonel Thomas Forrest, an artillery 
officer from Germantown, later a member of the XVI and 
XVII Congresses. 

No. 6347 Main Street was the residence for many 
years of Rev. John Rodney, who was the rector of St. 
Luke's Episcopal Church from 1825 to 1867, and rector 
emeritus until his death in 1886. The upper portion of 
the house was built by John Keyser and at the time of the 



The Main Street 1 1 1 

Battle was occupied by him and his family. As the house 
was high up above the street, the family from their refuge 
in the cellar were able, by placing an apple under the 
outside cellar door, to witness the Battle in the opposite 
field. There is a tradition that an American officer fell 
near the cellar door and the Keysers, at his burial, saved 
the silver shoe buckles which he wore. Years after one 
of his descendants, searching for information as to his an- 
cestor, was directed to the Keysers. It then developed that 
the officer they had helped bury was the person searched 
for and the buckles were given to the rightful owner. On 
an old stone in the terrace wall at the corner of the street 
about two feet from the ground will be found the initials 
of one of the Keysers and an early date now almost 
obliterated. 

The Chew House occupies the square bounded by the 
Main Street, Johnson and Morton Streets and Cliveden 
Avenue. It was the scene of the most important incident 
connected with the Battle. Indeed, the house and grounds 
have for a century and a quarter been pointed out as the 
Germantown Battle Ground. The place is called "Clive- 
den." The mansion was built about 1760 by Benjamin 
Chew, who at different times was Attorney-General of the 



112 Historic Germantown 

Province, a member of the Provincial Council and later, 
Chief Justice. 

"Cliveden" is two and one-half stories high and built 
of solid and heavy masonry. Back of it are two wings 
used for servants' quarters and kitchen and laundry; one 
wing is semi-detached and the other entirely so. Still 
further in the rear is the old stable, the whole forming 
a natural and admirable fortification, almost impregnable 
against any artillery which in that day could be brought 
against it. Along the front of the lawn there was, as 
there is to-day, a low terrace wall, and leading up to the 
house was a lane of good-sized cherry trees. Opposite was 
an open field stretching away to the banks of Paper Mill 
Run. The important part played by "Cliveden" in turn- 
ing the fortunes of the day in the Battle of Germantown 
has been explained in another chapter. 

When Colonel Musgrave with his soldiers entered the 
house he ordered all the shutters on the first floor closed ; 
a few men were placed at each window and the doors, 
with orders to bayonet anyone trying to enter. Most of 
the men then ascended to the second floor. He instructed 
them how to cover themselves and at the same time direct 
their fire out of the windows, adding that their only safety 
was in the defense of the house, that the situation was by 



The Main Street 113 

no means a bad one, as there had been instances of only a 
few men defending a house against superior numbers ; that 
he had no doubt of their being supported and delivered by 
their friends, but in any event they must sell themselves 
as dearly as possible. Some of the men climbed out of the 
back windows on to the roof and, lying flat, fired over the 
front, and all disposed themselves to make a vigorous 
defense. 

At the very first shot of the Continental cannon the 
front doors were burst open and some of the men were 
wounded with pieces of splintered stone. Captain Haines, 
a brave and intelligent officer commanding on the ground 
floor, ordered tables and chairs and everything available 
in the way of furniture piled against the doors. 

The Continental soldiers advanced under cover of the 
cherry trees in the lane and crouched behind the trees and 
marble statues as they fired at the windows above. One 
observer says the firing from the house was tremendous. 
The balls seemed to come in showers. Several efforts 
were made to set fire to the house, and Major White, of 
Sullivan's staff, was mortally wounded in making the at- 
tempt. A bundle of straw was piled against the cellar 
window, but it failed to ignite the woodwork. 

All efforts so bravely put forth by the Americans were 



H4 Historic Germantown 

unavailing. The house resisted every attack and Colonel 
Musgrave maintained his position until relieved by rein- 
forcements. It is said that the only man he had killed was 
in the northwest chamber on the second floor. No less 
than forty-six officers and men were killed in Maxwell's 
attacking brigade. 

It was a sorry looking house that remained. The walls 
and ceilings were blackened with smoke and the floors 
stained with blood. In the front hall many holes are to 
be seen filled with plaster, plainly showing because not 
quite of the same color as the original. Not alone in the 
hall but everywhere, the plaster had been broken by 
cannon and rifle balls, the woodwork was splintered and 
the stonework shattered, the marble statues were knocked 
over, broken and disfigured, one six-pound cannon ball 
had entered the front window, passed through four parti- 
tions and had gone out at the back. Five carpenters, as 
well as other mechanics, were employed all the next winter 
putting it in order. The third story suffered more than 
the second, and the second more than the first. The ceil- 
ing of the second story was, and is, literally peppered with 
the bullets from the muskets of those who crept up as close 
as they could and fired into the second-story windows. 
Around the base of the column in the hall are still to be 



The Main Street 115 

seen marks which are supposed to have been made by the 
butts of muskets stacked up around them. 

The Chew family was away from home at the time of 
the Battle, and the house but partly furnished had been 
left in the care of the gardener and probably other serv- 
ants. There was among these a pretty dairy maid whom 
the gardener much admired. The dairy maid was rather 
pleased than otherwise when the red coats took possession 
of the house and was not inclined to resent their tender 
familiarities. Seeing this, the gardener remonstrated with 
her, but without effect, and a "tiff" soon resulted. When 
the firing became heavy he urged her in vain to go to the 
cellar, and it was not until a cannon ball went through the 
house, making a great commotion, that the gardener, 
thinking further argument unnecessary, gave her a push 
which sent her headlong to the bottom of the stairs. He 
then turned the lock and left her in the cellar. Where 
he hid is not known, but they both came through the attack 
in safety. 

The best position to view the house is from the gateway 
on Johnson Street. The house and grounds are not open 
to the public, but Mr. Samuel Chew, the present owner, 
has not heretofore objected to amateur photographers and 
sightseers, who have a proper regard for the property, 
entering the grounds for a nearer view of the house. 



1 1 6 Historic Germantown 

When Johnson Street was opened the graves of a 
number of soldiers were discovered who had been buried 
in the grounds. Miss Ann Chew had the remains re- 
moved, and they now rest under the clump of shrubbery 
close to the fence at the corner of Johnson and Morton 
Streets. 

Upsalctj on the west side of Main Street, almost oppo- 
site the Chew house, is thought to be one of the finest 
examples of the so-called Colonial architecture in this part 
of the country. The house was erected in 1798 by John 
Johnson, ancestor of the present occupants. It was three 
years in building. The cannon trained on the Chew 
mansion nearly opposite, were first placed where now is 
the front lawn of this house. For many years Upsala 
has been famous for its rare and beautiful trees. 

The little old house at the northwest corner of Main 
and Upsal Streets was standing at the time of the Battle. 
It was for a long time the home of a certain Englishman, 
John Bardsley, a painter by trade, who some thirty years 
ago was sent to England through the influence of Ger- 
mantown's then Councilman, William F. Smith, to bring 
over a lot of English sparrows to destroy the caterpillars, 
then infesting the trees of the city. It is believed that 



The Main Street 117 

this was the first introduction of the sparrow on any great 
scale. The house has sometimes been called Sparrow 
Jack's house. 

The Billmeyer Home stands at the northeast corner of 
Main and Upsal Streets. It was erected about 1727, and 
formerly was one house. At the time of the Battle it was 
owned and occupied by the widow Deshler and her family. 
It was at this house that Washington paused in his march 
down the Main Street at the time of the Battle, having 
discovered that the Chew mansion was occupied by the 
British. At that time there was no house between this 
and the Chew house. The tradition is that Washington 
stood on a horse block, telescope in hand, trying in vain 
to penetrate the smoke and fog and discover the force of 
the enemy entrenched in the Chew mansion. The stone cap 
of the horse block on which he stood has been presented 
to the Site and Relic Society and is on exhibition at the 
Concord School, and the telescope is now in possession of 
the Germantown Academy. 

The house later suffered greatly at the hands of the 
British soldiers who were quartered here. Its woodwork 
yet bears the marks of bullets and of attempts made by 
the soldiers to set it on fire. About 1788 it was bought 



n8 Historic Germantown 

by Michael Billmeyer, a celebrated German printer, who 
here carried on his trade. The upper portion is still in 
possession of his family. Note the tablet erected by the 
Site and Relic Society. 

The Church of the Brethren, or Dunkards, 6613 Main 
Street, is the mother congregation of this sect in America. 
The Dunkards came to this country in 1719 and were 
gathered into a church organization in 1723 by Peter 
Becker, who was their first elder and pastor. They wor- 
shipped for many years in the homes of their members 
until about 1760, when they occupied a log building which 
stood in front of the meeting house. The front portion of 
the present building was erected in 1770 and the rear 
portion in 1897. 

Nearly opposite this church, in the Main Street, during 
the Battle General Francis Nash was mortally wounded 
and Major Witherspoon was killed by the same cannon 
ball. Major Witherspoon was buried in the yard adjoin- 
ing. In later years his brother and sister came on from 
Princeton to secure his remains, but they were in such a 
condition that the attempt was abandoned and the body 
was again buried in the graveyard of the Lutheran Church, 
a short distance above. 




ii 9 



120 Historic Germantown 

In the meeting house a tablet has been erected to the 
memory of Christopher Saur by Charles G. Sower, as 
follows : 



In Memory of 
Christopher Saur 
Bishop of 
Church of the Brethren. 
Born 1721 Died 1784 

Baptized 1737 Deacon 1747 

Minister 1748 Bishop 1753 

Published the Holy Bible 
Second Edition 1763. Third Edition 1776 



Only son of 

Christopher Saur 

Born 1693 in Laasphe, Germany 

Came to America in 1724 

Commenced Publishing in Germantown 1738 

Published First Am Quarto Edition of the Holy Bible 

1743 

Died in Germantown 1758 



In the graveyard is buried Alexander Mack, the or- 
ganizer of the Dunkard sect, who came to America in 
1729, and also in an unmarked grave the remains of 
Harriet Livermore, the Pilgrim Stranger who is alluded 
to in Whittier's "Snow Bound," an eccentric religious 
enthusiast, the daughter of a Senator from New Hamp- 
shire. Her last days were spent in poverty in Philadelphia 



The Main Street 121 

and as she was about to be buried in a pauper's grave a 
member of the Dunkard Church took her body and had 
it interred here. 

At the Battle of Germantown this meeting house was 
a witness of the fighting. In the loft Christopher Saur 
had stored some sheets, of the third edition of the Saur 
Bible. These were taken by the British cavalrymen who 
were encamped about and used as litter for their horses. 
Afterwards Saur gathered together as many as he could 
find and had enough sheets to make complete Bibles 
for each of his children. Some of the paper is also said 
to have been used as wadding for the muskets of the 
combatants. 

The old house No. 6669 Main Street belongs to the 
Lutheran Church, just above, and was used for many 
years as a home for the sexton. It was originally the 
"Beggarstown" school, built in 1740. It is the oldest 
school building existing in Germantown. In 1915 plans 
are under way for its alteration or removal. 

St. Michael's Lutheran Church is at the southeast 
corner of Main and Phil-ellena Streets. It was founded 
about 1737. In 1742 the Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlen- 
berg took charge of the two churches, one in Philadelphia 



122 Historic Germantown 

and the other in Germantown. In 1746 the work of 
considerably enlarging the church was begun. Pews were 
placed in it in 1750. In 1752 a parsonage was bought. 
The present building is the third successive one that has 
occupied the site. At the Battle the parsonage was seized 
by the British and the organ was destroyed, the soldiers 
running along the streets blowing on the pipes. 

In the graveyard are the remains of Christopher Lud- 
wig, "Baker General" to the American army; also of 
Major Witherspoon, son of Rev. John Witherspoon, 
president of Princeton College, killed in the Battle, as 
well as those of many of the early settlers of the town. 

At 6843 Main Street is the Paul house, occupied at 
the time of the Battle by the Gorgas family. The door 
jambs contain bullet marks and there are other evidences 
and traces of damage. To save their cows the family 
penned them up in the kitchen. In the front yard, nearly 
opposite the window, at the left of the front door, stood a 
big linden tree in which four cannon balls found lodgment. 
During the century after the Battle, the heart of the tree 
having rotted away, allowed the balls to fall to the ground 
inside the hollow trunk. One morning Miss Paul was 
digging away at the root of the stump to plant some 
flowers, when out rolled the balls. 



The Main Street 1 23 

No. 6goi Main Street, northeast corner of Gorgas, 
was built by Joseph Gorgas and is known as the Gorgas 
House. Here lived at one time Colin Cooper, the artist 
and writer. The field to the north adjoining the lot was 
known as the ten acre lot and was a widely known drill 
ground in the early days. 

Back in a field in the angle formed by the Reading 
Railroad and Gorgas Lane and about equidistant from 
each, is the old Unruh homestead, built in 1702. The 
house is still roofed with earthen tiles under the later 
covering of tin. After the Battle wounded soldiers were 
quartered here. It is not known when the old house was 
built. The Unruhs came from Germany. 

Occupying the site of the Lutheran Theological Semi- 
nary, on the east side of the Main Street, at Allen's Lane, 
was Mount Airy, the summer residence of Chief Justice 
William Allen. Later the house was used as a boarding 
school. At the time of Lafayette's visit in 1825 it was 
conducted by Benjamin C. Constant. In 1826 a Colonel 
Rumford was associated with him, and the institution was 
called "The American Classical and Military Institute." 
Many well-known persons received their education here, 
including Generals Beauregard and Meade, and the lat- 
ter's brother. The building was demolished about 1846. 



124 Historic Gtrmantown 

Mount Airy is now the name applied to this section of 
the Twenty-second Ward. 

The Gowen House, southeast corner Main Street and 
Gowen Avenue, came into the Gowen family through the 
maternal line. Joseph Miller was born at Mount Airy, 
January 26th, 1757. In 1792 he built the house in which 
he subsequently lived and died March 27th, 1825. In it 
his daughter was born, who married James Gowen. Their 
son, Franklin B. Gowen, was born here. It was the home 
of Franklin B. Gowen for some years, then of his brother, 
James E. Gowen, who lived here until his death. 



I EXCURSION, EAST SIDE § 
gOF GERMANTOWN g 

XJ XJ 




m 

(The distance covered by this excursion one way is a little over six miles) 

AFTER visiting Stenton (see page 31), return to the 
Main Street. Just above Wayne Junction, turn 
to the right out Stenton Avenue to East Logan Street 
(formerly Fisher's Lane). Then east along Fisher's Lane, 
and at the bottom of the hill where the road crosses what 
used to be the Wingohocking Creek, is a little whitewashed 
stone dwelling said to have been used for the storing of 
powder and arms during the Revolution and also for the 
manufacture of gunpowder. 

The mills are the Wakefield Mills, established at an 
early date by William Logan Fisher. His father, Thomas 
Fisher, in 1771 married Sarah, daughter of William 
Logan and granddaughter of James Logan, of Stenton. 
To the left, a short distance beyond the mills, standing 
back on a knoll from Fisher's Lane, is "Wakefield," the 
home of Thomas and Sarah Fisher, built about 1795, 
still in the possession of their descendants. 

After passing Wakefield the Old York Road is soon 
reached. Turning up this road the Jewish Hospital is 

125 



126 Historic Germantown 

passed on the right. Just beyond Olney Avenue, on the 
left, with a high wall along the road and a double bal- 
conied house with many outbuildings, was the home of 
Pierce Butler, a member of the Constitutional Convention 
and a Senator from South Carolina. He bought the 
property in 1812. He died in Philadelphia in 1822. 

Fanny Kemble, having married Pierce Butler, Jr., 
lived at this place from 1835 until the fall of 1840. Many 
incidents in connection with her home here and of the 
neighborhood will be found in her "Records of Later 
Life," from which the following is taken: 

"Butler Place — or as I then called it, 'The Farm/ 
preferring that homely, and far more appropriate, though 
less distinctive appellation, to the rather more pretentious 
title, which neither the extent of the property nor size 
and style of the house warranted — was not then our own, 
and we inhabited it by the kind allowance of an old rela- 
tion to whom it belonged, in consequence of my decided 
preference for a country to a town residence. 
Subsequently, I took great interest and pleasure in endeav- 
oring to improve and beautify the ground round the house ; 
I made flower-beds and laid out gravel-walks, and left an 
abiding mark of my sojourn there in a double row of two 
hundred trees, planted along the side of the place, bordered 
by the high-road ; many of which, from my and my assist- 
ants' combined ignorance, died, or came to no good growth, 




127 



128 Historic Germantown 

But those that survived our unskillful operations still form 
a screen of shade to the grounds, and protect them in some 
measure from the dust and glare of the highway." 

Just about this point a British outpost was stationed 
along the York Road. 

Proceeding to Branchtown, on the northeast corner 
of York Road and Main Street, is the De Benneville 
graveyard. Here recently a monument was erected to 
the memory of General Agnew and Colonel Bird, whose 
remains are said by some to rest here and not in the 
Lower Graveyard at Germantown, where they were origi- 
nally interred. The house on the north, just beyond, now 
rapidly falling into decay, was built by Joseph Spencer in 
1746, bought by Dr. De Benneville in 1758, and named 
by his son "Silver Pine Farm." The Branchtown Hotel, 
immediately opposite, was erected in 1790 by Joseph 
Spencer. 

On the left side of the turnpike beyond Branchtown 
and at the bottom of the hill is the entrance to Mr. 
Charles Wharton's place. Just inside the gateway is a 
rough stone some eight or ten feet in height. Here are 
buried four American soldiers surprised and shot by the 
British as they met around their camp fire, 1777. At the 
northwest corner of York Road and Chelten Avenue, 



Excursion , East Side of Germantown 129 

upon the grounds of the home of Joseph Wharton, stood 
the "Hope Cave" of Benjamin Lay, an eccentric character 
and one of the early abolitionists. For a further account 
of the York Road and places beyond this point, see "The 
Old York Road and its Associations," by Mrs. Ann De 
Benneville Mears, published in 1890. 

Returning to Church Lane (Mill Street), which inter- 
sects the York Road at Branchtown, and proceeding west 
(towards Germantown) at the bottom of the hill, about 
half a mile from Branchtown, the road crosses what used 
to be the Wingohocking Creek. Within a few years the 
road has been filled up and the creek is barely visible on 
the left of the road; in the northeast angle of the creek 
and the road was Roberts' Mill, built in 1683, the second 
mill erected in Philadelphia county. It was built by Rich- 
ard Townsend, one of the passengers in the Welcome with 
William Penn. Later it was sold to the Lukens family 
and it will be found plotted on the Revolutionary maps 
as Lukens' Mill. Early in the century it passed to Hugh 
Roberts, and as Roberts' Mill it existed until about 1873. 

"As soon as Germantown was laid out, I settled my 
tract of land, which was about a mile from thence, where 
I set up a barn and a corn mill, which was very useful to 
the country round. But there being few horses, people 



130 Historic Germantown 

generally brought their corn upon their backs, many miles. 
I remember, one had a bull so gentle, that he used to 
bring the corn on his back." — From the Testimony of 
Richard Towns end, 1727. 

On the rise of ground back of the mill the British had 
a small redoubt guarding their encampment in German- 
town. 

Retracing our steps a short distance, at the northeast 
corner of Church Lane and Dunton Street, standing back 
from the road and fronting west, with a little white spring 
house in front on the meadow bank, is the old Spencer 
farm house, which had been the birthplace and home of 
Thomas Godfrey, the inventor of the quadrant. At his 
death in 1749 he was buried on the farm, but many years 
later his remains were removed to Laurel Hill Cemetery 
through the efforts of John F. Watson, the annalist. 
During the removal the bones were deposited in the mill 
just mentioned, and Hugh Roberts, then a boy, relates 
how he ran for his life when on unsuspectingly opening the 
mill door and discovering the grinning skull there in the 
dusk of the evening. 




13* 



132 Historic Germantown 

"To guide the sailor in his wandering way, 
See Godfrey's toils reverse the beams of day, 
His lifted Quadrant to the eye displays 
From adverse skies the counteracting rays; 
And marks as devious sails bewilder'd roll, 
Each nice gradation from the steadfast pole." 
— From the Vision of Columbus, by Joel Barlow, 1787. 

When the yellow fever drove the officers of the gov- 
ernment to Germantown some of them lodged here, and 
George and Martha Washington were at one time calling. 
Hepzibah Spencer, the daughter of the house, then a child 
of four, crept up and peeped in the parlor window to see 
Mrs. Washington. After taking a look she turned to 
her companion and remarked in deep disgust: "Why, she's 
nothing but a woman, after all." 

Back of the house is the old brew house. 

Returning to the Limekiln Pike, and turning up it 
about half a mile, we reach Pittville. Here occupying 
the Langstreth property, northwest corner of Haines 
Street and Limekiln Turnpike, is the Philadelphia Na- 
tional Cemetery with many rows of the dead of the War 
of the Rebellion. 

The third house above the tollgate on the right, lately 
remodeled, is what was called in revolutionary times the 



Excursion, East Side of Germantown 133 

Andrews place, now the home of Mr. Middleton. The 
left wing of General Washington's army moved down this 
road and a sharp encounter with an outpost of the British 
occurred at this point. Isaac Woods, who was standing 
in a cellar door watching the fighting, was killed by a 
stray bullet. 

Returning to Haines Street and continuing on it west- 
ward towards Germantown, the Township Line, anciently 
dividing Germantown from Bristol Township, is crossed 
in about a quarter of a mile. On the east side of Town- 
ship Line, about a hundred yards north of Haines Street, 
high up on the bank above the road, are the remains 
(1915) of an old house that at one time was the home 
of Colonel Thomas Forrest, a resident of Germantown 
and an artillery officer in the Battle. Continuing on 
Haines Street, not far from Chew Street, the farm house 
on the left, standing close to the road, is a house that 
was the home of Christopher Ludwig, "Baker-General" to 
the American army. Reference has already been made 
to this. (See p. 87.) 

Almost opposite is "Awbry," the park-like grounds 
containing the houses of the Cope and Haines families. 

A short distance beyond is Chew Street. 



134 Historic Germantown 

On the east side of Chew Street, some four squares 
north of Haines Street, standing back from the street is 
the Griffith house, which witnessed severe fighting at the 
time of the Battle. 

Continuing on to Gorgas Lane and turning east on it, 
the tourist will find down in a field about three hundred 
yards south of Gorgas Lane and as many from the rail- 
road, the little Unruh house. (See p. 123.) 

Having now reached this point, the sightseer, if still 
ambitious, may cross over to the west side of Germantown, 
by passing up Chew Street to Mount Airy Avenue, to 
Main Street, to Allen's Lane, to Livezey's Lane, and take 
in reverse order the excursion described in the following 
chapter. 



| EXCURSION, WEST SIDE § 

g OF GERMANTOWN? 

m 



(The distance covered by this excursion one way is about six miles.) 

OrARTING at the Wayne Avenue end of Wayne 
^-J Junction, thence up Wayne to Apsley, to Pulaski, to 
West Logan, to Morris, to Clapier, to McKean Street 
At the foot of McKean Street is Fern Hill, formerly the 
estate of Louis Clapier, a famous merchant in the China 
and India trade. In 1812 one of his ships, the Dorothea, 
was given up as lost at sea or captured by the English, but 
she came safely into port, bringing her owner a rich 
return. On purchasing this property in Germantown he 
placed an iron model of the Dorothea on the barn as a 
weather vane. The estate was sold to Henry P. McKean 
in 1842. His son, Thomas McKean, built a yacht which 
was named the Dorothea. This boat was purchased by 
the government during the Spanish War. The story of 
the vane and its connection with the yacht being made 
known to Secretary of the Navy Long, he retained the 

*35 



136 Historic Germantown 

name Dorothea. This property has recently been pre- 
sented to the Cfty of Philadelphia as a public park. 

Watson says: "In the year 1789, a Resolution passed 
the House of Representatives, then in session in New 
York, that the permanent seat of government ought to be 
on the banks of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania ; but it 
was amended in the Senate by fixing upon Germantown 
as its site. Upon being returned to the House, the amend- 
ment was approved and sent back again to the Senate, for 
a slight amendment, providing that Pennsylvania laws 
should continue in force, in such Federal district, until 
Congress should legislate otherwise. Thereupon, the sub- 
ject was postponed until the next session; and thus, our 
old Germantown, after being fixed upon by both Houses, 
was wholly laid aside !" 

It is the understanding that the plateau and bluff which 
enjoys an extended outlook over the city and is now occu- 
pied by Fern Hill was one of the tracts of land intended 
for the location of the Capitol. 

Proceeding northward on McKean Avenue two 
squares, the grounds of the Germantown Cricket Club are 
reached. The large old house at the right of the entrance 
is a Fraley house. In 1798 Henry Fraley and his son 



Excursion, West Side of Germantown 137 

John purchased from Joseph Shippen a tract which they 
proceeded to develop by opening streets and laying out 
lots. They called it the village of Manheim. Federal, 
Columbia, and Tammany Streets were among those named 
and laid out. Either the venture was not a success or 
the lots were bought by those who wished large tracts of 
land, for all traces of the proposed village long ago dis- 
appeared. 

The frame building a hundred feet within the entrance 
of the Cricket Club's grounds formerly stood close to 
Manheim Street and was the country seat of the Price 
family. It is now the Ladies' Club House. Visitors 
should note the bronze tablet the directors have placed 
on the building and on the old Price stable, now a club 
house used by the Junior members and appropriately sur- 
mounted by a kid weather vane ; they should also visit the 
old-fashioned garden with its sun dial and graveled walks. 
When Germantown was occupied by the British the level 
plain about here was covered with a portion of the encamp- 
ment. They destroyed the fences, using them for firewood 
and for constructing shelters, which they roofed with 
straw and with sods to hold them in place. 



138 Historic Germantown 

Leaving Manheim and proceeding westward to Wissa- 
hickon Avenue, or Township Lane, for it divides German- 
town from Roxborough, thence along Wissahickon Ave- 
nue two squares to Queen Lane, and westward out Queen 
Lane about two squares, we come to Carlton, a long white 
building with a beautiful setting of trees, on a knoll at the 
right. This was the mansion of Henry Hill, erected on 
the site, or perhaps including an old farm house which 
also belonged to him ; the old building was Washington's 
headquarters on two occasions, the first week in August, 
1777, and again for two days in September, before and 
immediately after the Battle of Brandywine. 

When the British army occupied Germantown, the 
Hessian detachment occupied the left wing from the vil- 
lage to the Schuylkill and General Knyphausen had his 
headquarters here. 

Some years ago the lawn, having become full of weeds, 
was plowed up, yielding a plentiful crop of English coins. 

Continuing on past the house towards the Queen Lane 
reservoir we come to a granite stone erected by the Sons 
of the Revolution in 1895 to commemorate the encamp- 
ment of the American army at this point. 




'39 



140 



Historic Germantown 



Ruined by 
the war 

1777 

rebuilt 
more firmly 

by the 

trusty 
Isaac Tustin 



Proceeding one square north to Midvale Avenue, the 
street back of Carlton, there is a much closer view of the 

house and the barn. Built in the 

high stable wall is a stone with 
this inscription: — 

This tablet was taken from an 
old farm house nearby, which will 
soon have crumbled entirely away, 
and placed in its present position 
by Mr. Smith, the owner of Carl- 
ton. 

Returning to Wissahickon Ave- 
nue and turning northward five 
squares above, at the bottom of a steep hill we come to 
Rittenhouse Street; turn to the left and follow it down 
to Lincoln Drive. Almost directly opposite the junction 
of the streets is a little house, below the level of Lincoln 
Drive, that was the birthplace of David Rittenhouse, 
Pennsylvania's first and greatest astronomer. The house 
was erected in 1707, and David Rittenhouse was born 
here April 8th, 1732. Soon after this his parents moved 
to near Norristown. David Rittenhouse, besides being a 
famous astronomer, was elected President of the Philo- 
sophical Society in 1791 and served until his death; 



Excursion, West Side of Germantown 141 

Treasurer of the State from 1777 to 1789; Director of 
the Mint from 1792 to 1795. He died 1796. A tablet 
has been placed on the building. 

William Rittenhouse, the first of the name in Amer- 
ica, arrived in 1690, and was the first paper maker in the 
Colonies. The mill was located near this house. It was 
washed away by a freshet in 1701 and another built; this 
in time was succeeded by another, and it by a fourth in 
1780. The little stream was Monoshone Creek, but the 
popular name is Paper Mill Run. William Rittenhouse 
was an early Mennonite preacher. His oldest son was 
Mathias Rittenhouse, whose youngest son was Nicholas 
Rittenhouse, and David Rittenhouse was the latter's 
oldest son. 

Up to within a few years there was a cluster of houses 
around the roads at this point and the settlement was 
called Rittenhouse Town. 

Returning along Lincoln Drive to Wissahickon Ave- 
nue, we cross Paper Mill Run over an old county bridge, 
and continuing northward past Blue Bell Hill, as the 
settlement on Wissahickon Avenue at Walnut Lane is 
called, in about three-quarters of a mile a long white 
house on the west side of the road is reached, called 
"Spring Bank," for many years the summer home of 



142 Historic Germantown 

the Hon. John Welsh. During his life Mr. Welsh do- 
nated several acres to the Park, including Molly Runker's 
Rock, almost in the rear of Spring Bank, where later he 
erected the heroic statue of William Penn, which over- 
looks the Valley of the Wissahickon. It is marked with 
the single expressive word "Toleration." Mr. Welsh 
died April 10th, 1886. 

Two hundred yards further on Kitchen's Lane is 
reached. Turning down it at the bottom of the hill is 
the Wissahickon Valley and Creek. Here on the east 
bank of the stream near the summit of a hill and about 
two hundred yards north of the road, is the so-called 
"Monastery." It was erected by Joseph Gorgas between 
the years 1756-52 upon the site of a log cabin erected in 
1737. This house, so far as known, was never used for 
any monastic purpose. Right at the foot of the house, 
along the banks of the stream, was the Baptistry, 
where the Dunkards baptized their converts. The 
"Monastery" is now within the limits of the Park. It is 
a short distance from here down the Bridle Path to the 
statue of William Penn, referred to above. 

Returning to Wissahickon Avenue and continuing 
northward after crossing another one of the old county 
bridges and climbing a hill, Allen's Lane is reached, 



Excursion, West Side of Germantown 143 

Wissahickon Avenue ending in it. A few hundred feet 
east Livezey's Lane takes off from it still in a northerly 
direction. This, too, leads down to the Wissahickon 
at what was Livezey's Mill, a famous one in its time. 
The old Livezey house is still standing. During the 
Revolution Thomas Livezey hid several casks of wine by 
sinking them in his dam. Some of it was still preserved 
within recent years. At the time of the Battle Thomas 
Livezey, hearing the roar of cannon, climbed the hill and 
climbed on a fence to get a view of the fighting, but a 
stray bullet broke a limb off the tree under which he 
was. He concluded it was best to return to the house. 
Descendants of the Livezeys, of the same name, still own 
considerable land in the vicinity. 

Not far above the Livezey house, along a pleasant and 
easy path along the Wissahickon where Cresheim Creek 
flows into it, is the Devil's Pool. 

From this point the tourist may either return by the 
Wissahickon Drive or by crossing over to Gorgas Lane 
on the east side of the Main Street, the excursion planned 
for the east side of Germantown may be taken reversely, 
bringing one eventually back to Wayne Junction. 



fcSS 



I BATTLE ^/GERMANTOWN 



AFTER the defeat of the American army at Brandy- 
wine in the month of September, 1777, and the 
occupation of Philadelphia by the British army, General 
Washington reinforced by detachments from the North- 
ern army and by the militia of New Jersey and Pennsyl- 
vania, took up a strong position twenty-five miles from 
the city near the Perkiomen, a creek emptying into the 
Schuylkill. The bulk of the British army was posted at 
Germantown with a view to command the approaches to 
the city and overawe the surrounding country. The 
Market Square was the centre of the line. The right 
extended along Mill Street to Lukens' ( Roberts' ) mill 
and was composed of the Grenadier Guards and six 
battalions of the Line, the whole under General Grant. 
The left extended along School House Lane to Ridge 
Avenue, and was composed of the Third and Fourth 
Brigades under Generals Gray and Agnew, and the 
Hessians, who were on the extreme left with a picket at 
the Wissahickon, the whole under Lieutenant General 
Knyphausen. Two battalions of the guard were posted 
in the rear of the town near to Fisher's Lane. General 



144 




o 



145 



146 Historic Germantown 

Howe's headquarters were at Stenton, the house of Dr. 
George Logan, at that time in England. Two battalions 
were in advance of the centre on the Main Street, the 
Fortieth Regiment at the Chew house, and the other, the 
Fifty-second Light Infantry, at Mount Airy, with a 
picket at the place of Chief Justice Allen, afterwards 
James Gowen's property. A battalion was stationed in 
advance of the right on the Limekiln Turnpike at Wash- 
ington Lane, and the Queen's Rangers, a provincial or- 
ganization, were posted in the rear of the right on the 
York Road below Branchtown. 

The American commander, having received informa- 
tion that a portion of the enemy's force had been detached 
to assist in the reduction of the forts on the Delaware, 
determined to strike a sudden blow upon the army posted 
at Germantown and secure, if possible, a victory. After 
due consultation it was proposed to march to a point on 
the Skippack Road, about eighteen miles from the British 
position in Germantown, arriving on the morning of the 
3d of October, and to give the impression of forming a 
permanent camp at that place. That night the whole 
army was ordered to move at seven o'clock down the 
Skippack Road to the Bethlehem Turnpike and there 
separate at certain points into four columns, each to move 



Battle of Germantown 147 

by a separate route. On the morning of the 3d of 
October, 1777, the American army arrived at the pro- 
posed distance from the British line and went into camp 
with headquarters at the house of Mr. J. Wentz, and 
at 7 o'clock that evening again took up the line of march. 
At the White Marsh Church General Smallwood with 
the militia of Maryland and New Jersey moved into the 
York Road to get in the rear of the British right. General 
Greene with his own division and that of General Stephens 
and the brigade of General McDougall marched on to 
the Limekiln Road to attack the British right. The rest 
of the army marched on down the Bethlehem Turnpike 
to Chestnut Hill, near which General Armstrong with 
the Pennsylvania militia, guided by George Danenhower, 
a soldier and a native of Germantown, continued over to 
the Ridge Road, down which they marched to get in the 
rear of the British left. The remainder of the army, 
composed of Sullivan's and Wayne's divisions, with the 
brigade of General Conway, the whole under the com- 
mand of General Sullivan, followed by the reserve di- 
vision under Lord Stirling, accompanied by the Com- 
mander-in-Chief with his staff, marched by the main road 
down through Chestnut Hill to the village of German- 
town to attack the enemy's left. You will thus see how 



148 Historic Germantown 

extended was the plan of attack and will appreciate how 
necessary it was in order to achieve success that its differ- 
ent parts should work together without friction or failure. 
The several days preceding October 4th had been 
fair and delightful but the mornings had been noticeably 
foggy. When General Sullivan's division reached the 
Mermaid Tavern at the northern boundary of Mount 
Airy, where Cresheim Creek crosses the main street, 
the sun was just rising above the hills, but it soon buried 
itself in a bank of cloud, and a fog more dense than 
usual settled over the town. Some chronicles have stated 
that at times it was difficult to see a hundred feet away, 
others have said a hundred yards. It is probable that the 
shifting fog clouds rolling in waves would now and then 
lift and give at times a wider range of vision, but soon 
the smoke of battle and of burning stubble fields, hay and 
other combustibles, added to the fog, made a darkness in 
which there was no discovering friend from foe. To 
prevent mistaking each other, the soldiers and officers 
had been ordered to place a piece of white paper in their 
hats, but this precaution, if obeyed, was ineffective; to 
make matters worse, Thomas Paine, who was present at 
the Battle, says that the Americans were rendered sus- 




H9 



150 Historic Germantown 

picious of each other by many of them being dressed in 
red. 

General Sullivan's division formed on the right of the 
road, which would be the west, and General Wayne on 
the east. Sullivan was the first to come into action, 
attacking the picket at the Allen house and killing all 
the sentries, he carried all before him and drove the 
enemy in confusion until at last they, with reinforcements 
from below, were able to make a stand on both sides of 
the Main Street at the Mennonite Church below Tulpe- 
hocken Street. To the east of the road General Wayne 
also pushed on and passed the Chew house. 

In the meantime Washington, with the reserve di- 
visions, had arrived at the Billmeyer house, about which 
time it was discovered that six companies of the Fortieth 
Regiment, under command of Colonel Musgrave, during 
the retreat from Mount Airy, had taken refuge in the 
Chew house, and barricading the doors and windows of 
the first story were keeping up a steady fire from the 
upper windows upon the road and its vicinity. Both 
Sullivan's and Wayne's divisions had passed the house 
before its occupancy by the British had been discovered. 
After a council of war, held near the Billmeyer house, 
Washington ordered the attack upon the Chew house by 



Battle of Germantown 151 

MaxwelPs brigade of the reserve and sent the other 
brigade of the reserve, Nash's, to strengthen Sullivan's 
line at Washington Lane. 

Meanwhile General Greene had commenced fighting 
on the Limekiln road, and after some delay, owing to the 
fog, in which the division of General Stephens had gone 
astray and the brigade of McDougall had gone too far 
to the left, he formed his own division in line just above 
Pittville, and moving over the fields, made a vigorous 
attack upon the British right, capturing the redoubt near 
Lukens' Mill and was in a fair way to penetrate into 
the town at Market Square. 

By this time also, Armstrong, on the Ridge Road, had 
arrived in front of the Hessians and was skirmishing with 
them, using his field pieces on the heights above the Wis- 
sahickon. 

The battle was now general along the line, except on 
the York Road, where Smallwood was approaching 
Branchtown. Sullivan, reinforced by Nash's brigade, 
began to push the enemy towards the centre of the town. 
It seemed at this time as if the British army was prac- 
tically defeated; the utmost consternation prevailed and 
orders were actually given for the various corps to ren- 
devouz at Chester. Unfortunately at this moment a 



152 Historic Germantown 

panic arose in General Wayne's command by some one 
calling out that they were surrounded, and the continuous 
firing at the Chew house, together with the approach 
in the rear of one of General Greene's brigades, which 
had gone astray in the fog and was mistaken for the 
enemy, and the beating of a drum at the Chew house, 
supposed to be a signal for retreat, all combined to throw 
Wayne's division into confusion, and despite the remon- 
strances of their officers, the troops began to retreat. 

The retirement of Wayne uncovered the left of Sul- 
livan, and his line being somewhat extended and dis- 
ordered and his ammunition exhausted, he was compelled 
to give the order to retire. Washington fearing a general 
rout, sent messengers to recall Smallwood and Armstrong, 
as well as Greene, who was still successfully engaged 
with the enemy and who was forced also to receive an 
attack from a portion of the left wing of that army. He 
fell back, stubbornly contesting the ground and giving 
time for the other divisions to withdraw. The retreat 
was conducted in good order. The British advanced in 
pursuit, having been reinforced by Lord Cornwallis with 
the Grenadiers and Light Infantry, who had run all the 
way from the city. Generals Gray and Agnew led up 
their brigades in columns along the Main Street in pur- 




Old Doors of Chew House 



153 



154 Historic Germantown 

suit. When the latter, at the head of his troops, reached 
the Mennonite Meeting House, he was mortally wounded 
by a shot from some one in ambush in the graveyard, and 
falling from his horse was carried to the rear. The pur- 
suit was continued to Chestnut Hill and then given up. 
The British returned to the city and the American army 
to its former camping ground on the Perkiomen. The 
Battle lasted from early dawn until after ten o'clock. 

The loss of the Americans was as follows: Killed, 
officers, 30; men, 122. Wounded, officers, 117; men, 
404. Prisoners, 400. Total, 1073. 

Of the British: Killed, officers, 13; men, 58. 
Wounded, officers, 55; men, 395. Total, 521. 

Colonel Matthews with the Ninth Virginia Regiment 
of Greene's division became separated from their com- 
mand and were captured in Mill Street near the Market 
Square. Many officers and men were slain in the attack 
upon the Chew house. F. H. 



§ FRANCIS DANIEL g 
8 PASTORIUS 



Prelude to the Pennsylvania Pilgrim 

I sing the Pilgrim of a softer clime 

And milder speech than those brave men's who brought 
To the ice and iron of our winter time 

A will as firm, a creed as stern, and wrought 

With one mailed hand, and with the other fought. 
Simply, as fits my theme, in a homely rhyme 

I sing the blue-eyed German Spener taught, 
Through whose veiled, mystic faith the Inward Light, 

Steady and still, and easy brightness, shone, 
Transfiguring all things in its radiance white. 
The garland which his meekness never sought 

I bring him ; over fields of harvest sown 

With seeds of blessing, now to ripeness grown, 
I bid the sower pass before the reapers' sight. 

John G. Whittier. 

THERE seems no proper place in the description of 
localities to mention Francis Daniel Pastorius, and 
any book of Germantown, even a guide book, would be 
incomplete without some allusion to him. He was born 
in Sommerhausen, Germany, September 26th, 1651. He 
reached Philadelphia August 6th, 1683. He first built 

155 



156 Historic Germantown 

a little house in Philadelphia, but later he moved to 
Germantown and became the leader, counsellor, lawyer, 
teacher and conveyancer for his countrymen. He was 
one of the best educated men in the colonies, being fa- 
miliar with and writing fluently German, Italian, French, 
Dutch, English, Spanish, Greek and Latin. He kept the 
records of the court, was bailiff of the borough, a justice 
of the peace and member of the Assembly, 1687 and 1691. 
He looked after the affairs of the Frankfort Company, 
the company owning the land comprised in Germantown, 
until 1700. He wrote a primer, which was the first orig- 
inal school book printed in Pennsylvania. Seven of his 
books were printed, besides which he left forty-three 
works in manuscript. It was his name which appeared 
on the protest against slavery, issued in 1688, handed 
into his meeting and by it referred to the Monthly 
Meeting as mentioned, and it was written by him. 

Pastorius married, November 25th, 1688, Anna Klos- 
terman, in Germantown. They were the parents of two 
sons, Johann Samuel, born March 30th, 1690, and 
Henry, born April 1st, 1692. 

In 1698 Pastorius was master of the Friends School 
in Philadelphia and his home in Germantown stood idle. 
His house stood where now is the new Methodist Church, 




»57 



158 Historic Germantown 

between Dr. Alexis Smith's house, No. 6019 Main Street, 
and Dr. Dunton's house, which originally stood where 
High Street is now opened through. Dr. Dunton tore 
the house down some thirty years ago and stones from it 
were used to build the rear portion of his present house, 
now No. 25 High Street. (See p. 89.) 

Dr. Christopher Witt was Pastorius' neighbor and at 
one time they exchanged verses by throwing them over 
the fence to each other. They were both interested in 
flowers and horticulture and their verses related to these 
subjects. 

Pastorius left a remarkable book called "The Bee- 
hive," a volume of family and miscellaneous matters 
containing a thousand pages of history, agriculture, 
philosophy, poetry, laws, etc., written in seven languages. 
The book is still in possession of the family, but is at 
present deposited in the Library of the University of 
Pennsylvania. 

Whittier has immortalized Pastorius and the placid 
life of the early Germantown settlers in his "Pennsylva- 
nia Pilgrim." 

Pastorius died February 27th, 1719. It is not known 
where he was buried, but probably in the Friends' burial 
ground on the Main Street above Coulter. 



Francis Daniel Pastorius 159 

Some of his descendants of the name Pastorius are 
still living in Germantown. For much other information 
concerning this talented and useful man see Judge Pen- 
nypacker's "Settlement of Germantown." 



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PAGE 




PAGE 


Academy, 


75 


Germantown, Battle of, 


144 


Alcott, Louisa M., 


56 


Germantown, Bibliography of 


9 


Allen's House, 


123 


Germantown Cricket Club, 


136 


Armat, Thomas, 


67 


Germantown, How to Reach 


14 


Arrival of Immigrants, 


17 


Germantown Library, 


73 


Ashmeads, 


57,67 


Germantown National Bank, 


52,73 


Awbry, 


133 


Germantown, Proposed Capitol U.S. ,136 


Ax's Burying Ground, 


108 


Germantown, Streets of 


160 






Godfrey, Thomas, 


130 


Bank of North America, 


79 


Gorgas Family, 


123, 142 


Bank of Pennsylvania, 


78 


Gowen House, 


124 


Baptistry, 


142 


Green Tree Tavern, 


92 


Barron, Commodore James 


41 


Griffith House, 


134 


Beauregard, General P. G. T., 


123 






Bibliography, 


9 


Hacker House, 


45 


Billmeyer House, 


117 


Henry House, 


38 


Blair House, 
Branchtown, 
Butler Place, 


98 
128 
126 


Hill, Henry, Mansion, 
Hood's Burying Ground, 


138 
38 


Carlton 


138 
57 


Jefferson, Thomas, 


52 


V/dl 1 (ASH, 

Carriage Building, 


Johnson House, 


104,106 


Charter Oak Library, 


107 






Chew, Benjamin, 


111 


Kelpius Johannes, 


20 


Chew House, 


111 


Kemble, Fanny, 


126 


Church of Brethren, 


118 


Keyser House, 


102 


Clapier, Louis, 


135 


King of Prussia Tavern, 


80 


Cliveden, 


111 


Kunders, Thones, House, 


40 


Concord School, 


107 






Cushman, Charlotte, 


100 


Livezey House, 


143 


Dove House, 
Drinker, Elizabeth, 


79 

74,78 

118 


Logan, James, 

Loudoun, 

Lower Burying Ground, 


31 
34 

38 


YJ unKs id s y 


Ludwig, Christopher, 


87, 122 


Engle House, 


88 


Lutheran Church, 

Lutheran Theological Seminary, 


121 
123 


Fence, Revolutionary, 


106 






Forrest, Colonel Thomas, 


133 


Market Square, 


59 


Friends' Meeting House, 


55 


Market Square Church, 


70 



i6 S 



i66 



Historic Germantown 



McKean Family, 

Meade, General George G. 

Mehl House, 

Mennonites, 

Methodist Church, 

Middleton House, 

Monastery, 

Morris House, 

Morris-Littell House, 

Museum, 

Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 

Neglee's Hill, 

Ottinger House, 



PAGE 

135 

123 

35 

100 

86 

132 

142 

63 

89 

85 

71 

34 

36 



Paper Making, first in United States, 141 

Pastorius, Francis Daniel, 89,155 

Paul House, 122 

Paxtang Boys, 59 

Perm, William, 54, 69 
Philadelphia National Cemetery, 132 

Pomona, 110 

Presbyterian Church, 82, 86 

Price Homestead, 137 

Randolph, Edmund, 52 

Rittenhouse, David, birthplace, 140 

Roberts' Mill, 129 

Rock House, 53 

Rodney House, 110 

St. Luke's Church, 54 

St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 91 

St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 121 

St. Stephen's Church, 45 

Saur, Christopher, 47, 120 

Saving Fund, 69 



Shag Rag, 

Shippen, Dr. William, 
Slavery, Protest Against, 
Sparrows, English, 
Spencer House, 
Spring Bank, 
Stenton, 
Stuart, Gilbert, 

Toland House, 

Town Hall, 

Type First Made in America, 

United States Bank, 
Unruh House, 
Upper Burying Ground, 
Upsala, 



Vernon Park, 

Wagner House, 
Wakefield Mills, 
Warner Family, 
Washington, George, 
Washington, Martha, 
Washington Tavern, 
Wayne Junction, 
Welsh, Hon. John, 
Whitefield, George, 
Wister, Charles J., 
Wister, Owen, 
Wister's, Sally, Journal, 
Witherspoon, Major, 
Witt, Dr. Christopher, 
Women's Christian Association, 
Wyck, 

Zinzendorf, Count, 



PAGE 

72 

98 

40 

116 

130 

141 

31 

42 

35 

87 

48,52 

74 
123 
108 
116 

84 



36 

125 

94 

44, 46, 63, 74, 79 

132 

104 

31 

142 

72 

50 

44 

51 

118, 122 

89,94 

69 

95 

67,70 



